Last season I began a series of Sunday journals that each week featured one of the sled dogs that live here. There are over thirty working dogs living right next to our cabin! This year I thought I would continue this article because it seemed to be pretty popular with the students.
Mike and Corine are the people that own the dogs, rent us our cabin, and live in the cabin that is next to ours. They are wonderful people! Mike has spent much of his life living in areas of northern Alaska where the only form of transportation is by dog sled. Under those kinds of conditions the dogs are more reliable than a vehicle and can take you just about anywhere you need to go. They can pull large loads and travel through some pretty deep snow. Plus they make great companions and are fun to be around.
When I first saw the dogs last year I was taken by their look. They seemed small and thin and I felt bad for them having to live outside all year. Once I began to talk with Mike and Corine I came to understand that these are true working dogs. Their size allows them to travel over snow better and to move through drifts and trees. When you pet the dogs you realize that they are not thin, they are full of muscles and energy. Their hind legs are developed and strong for pulling. Their coats are thick and nice and keep them warm all winter. And the best part is that they love to pull a sled!
Tamale is a good gentle dog. But her vision seems to be leaving her.
Tamale is an older female who was a good sled dog last year and who was very kind and gentle. When I arrived here this year I noticed that she had been moved to the yard with the dogs that are too old or not able to pull anymore. I was very surprised. After talking with Mike I learned that Tamale has lost her sight. In a very short amount of time she went from working on a sled team to not being able to find her way around the yard. She may have damage to her eyes from many years of pulling in the bright sun with the snow all around. All of that sunlight may have been affecting her eyes little by little until she can’t see much at all.
You can see that her eyes have lost their sight. She is still a good companion.
Tamale still has a good doghouse to get into if the snow gets too deep.
But she still knows how to get into trouble. Earlier this winter, Elizabeth and Peter were working and noticed that the outside refrigerator was left open with a mess inside. They were sure it was from one of the visitors who had been here the day before. So they cleaned it up and closed the door. Later that day they found the refrigerator open and left with a mess again, only this time they noticed chew marks on some of the containers. They thought that the squirrels were do it, but they couldn’t figure how the squirrels were getting into the frig. Just a couple of hours later Elizabeth heard a noise outside on the porch and opened the cabin door in time to see Tamale going through everything in the refrigerator. Mike had left her out of the yard so that she could have some freedom and wonder around. Even with her sight so bad, she could still find and open the refrigerator!
We had to tape the refrigerator shut to keep Tamale out!
Butch is another dog that has gotten too old to pull the sleds, his vision is also getting bad. He shares a yard with Tamale so they are good pals.