Ruca Dog Kennel
Sterling, AK
"I have to block out thoughts of you, so I don't loose my head." Blue October
Brohde
I found Brohde one spring, a predestined meeting in the Fred Myer's parking lot. I had 2 other dogs at the time and was living at home. As soon as I had him though, I knew he was mine. Upon threats, that would have been made true, that I would live in my car, my parents let me keep him. He was a gentleman to the core and had soon won over my parents and was sleeping on the coach with everyone else. He ran in my team for my first season, but was very easily distracted by everything and was so strong that he could pull the rest of the team and sled to where he wanted to go. A little over a year after I got him, it was discovered that he had cancer that was inoperable and progressed quickly. Brohde died May 5th, 2006.
Pedro 11yrs
Pedro came from the same home as Chico. He recently had obstruction surgery and moved into the house permanently after. His front legs are both blown out, from his previous owners, and while he still runs laps in the dog yard, he doesn't run in a team anymore. He doesn't seem to mind though and will run and hide when he knows its time to go outside for a couple hours. Pedro died of cancer on August 1st, 2008.
Panda 12.5 yrs
Panda is one of my four original sled dogs. She is pretty much retired but still goes on little 3 mile or so runs. She is probably the funniest dog at hookup, with her whole body shaking so badly in her excitment, she is sort of a blur. Pand amoved into the house this last winter. It actually took convincing, but once after a couple of weeks, she got it down. Panda passed on December 23rd, 2008 at home.
Chico 11yrs
Chico came from another musher during my first year, when I was greatly lacking in leaders. He recently moved into the house to better enjoy his retirement, which he has quite taken to. Chico has the energy of a two year old, rather than his 11 years. While I never thought of him as a shy dog, since moving inside, he has become an in your face dog that demands attention. While he still has the energy to go, an arthritic hip and blown out front leg keep him from going. Chico passed on April 18th, 2009.
Raliegh 45lbs 5yrs
Raliegh came from a home where he had been abandoned for a month with no food or water. I got a call from a friend who knew the people that had moved into the house, and they were worried about him nipping their kids. A dog left on a chain with no exercise or attention is a recipe for disaster. I was hesitant at first, but home he came. All this dog wants in life is to be loved. He has a lot of trust issues that I'm not sure we will ever work fully through. He has an attitude, both with me and with the other dogs, but the sweet side of him that I get glimpses of, is who I know he really is. A more stubborn dog I have never met, but it is a reflection of his past and intelligence. He is a wheel dog, or back of the team. He didn't quite make longer distances this winter but I am going to keep working with him and we will see how he does next season.
Ruca 65lbs 6yrs
Ruca is my first dog and although she has never ran in a team, she very actively participates in beach walks and the general regulation of the dog yard. A month after we moved into my cabin she became sick and within 4 days couldn't walk and had hemorrhaging behind her eyes. She was diagnosed with a neurological disease that, nothing is basically known about, and will be terminal, eventually. The average life span for dogs with it is 3 days, but she is still doing good, going on 3 years. She takes medicine every 6 weeks, a potent chemotherapeutic drug, that keeps most of the symptoms in a state of remission. To keep her as healthy as I can, she eats a mostly raw, organic diet, that I cook daily. I take it day to day with her, trying out to homeopathic alternatives, which she is mostly just grateful when I rule them out, the green tea being one of her particular least favorites.
