The Era: Skinny and Sierra

Skinny, gee haw command leader, Yukon Quest, and veteran of numerous middistance and sprint races, crossed the Rainbow Bridge this afternoon. Blinded by glaucoma, he put up a good fight to keep himself independent and ever happy. But this wonderful, honorable leader was becoming increasingly agitated by his circumstances and it was most humane to let him go with dignity and peacefully, wrapped in his gray blanket.

Sierra came to us 15 years ago having been found in a dumpster. She has been here since our first sled dog, Scuba, and has made it her mission to keep the kennel organized, on schedule and no nonsense. She was a mighty little leader along with her now deceased partner, Tanni. Recently she had had a lot of pain and discomfort, finding it very hard to even lie down, even with medication. She too deserved to go with honor, love and safety.

To send these two amazing dogs together today was incredibly difficult, painful and sad, but it also evoked so so many memories of all of their astute, very loyal and instinctive behaviors. We are all sad, dogs and humans, but are grateful for the opportunity to know and care for these dear friends.

Godspeed, Sierra and Skinny, dear friends.

Summer Blog, 2011

We are moving to our summer blog for 2011. The address is: www.summerspk11.blogspot.com

Zeus recovering

Zeus swallowed three rocks that did not pass, requiring immediate gastrointestinal surgery. He's a
recovering house dog now and very obedient and sweet... we just want him better.

Zeus had surgery

Zeus had surgery yesterday following an xray showing rocks in his stomach. This is our first known rock eater, poor guy. We checked on him late day and they had retrieved three rocks and were about to finish the surgery. He stayed overnight and possibly again tonight.

He is a very sweet and good dog and we hope for his complete recovery. We will add him to

our house dog roster now and hope to fix up a rock less pen for him when he is able to return outside. Eos will miss her best buddy/brother as a pen partner.

Photo: Zeus, right in photo, Eos, left in photo.

Generations

We have a new helper, Tanner, who already knows the 'ropes' with dogs. He took out two teams for very short runs the other day which always makes the dogs happy. We hope he'll be here during the summer to work around the kennel. He hopes to race sprint next winter again.

Walk back in kennel time

In 1996 Jenny Van Marter came to SPK to train and race our dogs. She trained hard, used a heavy sled and went through all kinds of challenges to win her first race. It was minus forty at start time in Land O Lakes, so we had to wait until minus 20 for takeoff. She won the four dog class. Yesterday she sent us photos from that year which are so heartwarming. We had so many challenges as we learned together about sled dog racing. Jenny was a great sport and talented.

Photos of the original kennel dogs are precious. In the team photo it is Scuba and daughter,Stardust in lead; Scuba's sons, Geronimo and T. Rusty Bear in wheel. What a great lineage. Only Glory remains from that family in our kennel.

Beautiful sweet Balto

Balto, age fourteen, in this photo the pretty white and brown wheel dog, racing the Nicolet

Sprint, crossed the Rainbow Bridge today. We loved her great face and fur and feet and

spirit. One day she climbed two ten foot fences to get into another pen. She did almost hang

herself one day in a thunder storm, trying to scale the fence. Her back legs finally gave out on

her. On this team, Skinny and Glory in lead, Sulatna in wheel with Balto.