P.O. Box 634
Belvidere, IL 61008
ph: 815-566-6421
info
Karen Gadke, Ph.D. (Health Science) is a retired clinical study specialist, medical writer, and lecturer. She has been training and racing sled dogs, many of them rescued huskies, for 30 years. She owns both Siberians and Alaskans. Karen is an internationally published author on animal issues, awareness and education and a welcome addition to AFSBC.
Have a question for Karen? Contact her at:
Please do not forget that emergency numbers may be found in the April 2012 Corner, archived.
I hope you have enjoyed reading this blog and that it can help you keep your pets healthy. Their lives are so short. Enjoy them while they are still here. And please give your old dogs a little extra love.
On a lovely September day Tiniiko, my 15-year-old pure white husky, made his transition to Rainbow Bridge. Tiniiko was the happiest dog I have ever known. He always tried to please. He gave more than 100% every time he worked as a sled dog, and kept us laughing at his "antics" at other times. Even during his last days, when the medication was no longer working well and his old legs said "enough pain," he tried to be cheerful and attempt to run around the exercise area like he used to. Tiniiko was an inspiration to all who knew him, and he will live in my heart forever.
I wrote his true story years ago, and I want to share it with you and your children, as a final tribute to a truly great dog.
TINIIKO -- BRAVE LEAD DOG OF THE NORTH
In the snowy north of the state of Minnesota lived a man with his wife, two young daughters, and a team of sled dogs. The man’s name was Jonathan. He was a kind man who loved his family and his dogs. He enjoyed taking the team on long runs in the woods, and sometimes camp overnight with the whole team. Jonathan and his team won many sled races.
One spring day a litter of puppies was born. There were five healthy puppies.
Jonathan and his family enjoyed watching them grow. They were all strong and healthy. One of the pups was bigger and stronger than the others. He was very special in every way, and always tried to please Jonathan and his whole family. The puppy was pure white and he looked like a little moose. The children said, “Let’s name him Moose.”
So since Moose are animals of the North, Jonathan looked at an Eskimo dictionary and found the word for Moose. It was Tiniiko. That’s how the white fluffy puppy got his name. Everyone in the family liked it.
Tiniiko was Jonathan’s favorite puppy, and he grew up into a fine young dog, eager to learn how to be a good sled dog. Jonathan knew of a special test that shows who the future lead dogs in a litter of puppies will be. When the day of testing came around, Tiniiko did just what his master expected. He passed the test with flying colors. And since Toby, his present lead dog was getting up in years and would soon have to be retired, Jonathan knew that Tiniiko was his future lead dog. And he knew Tiniiko was going to be a great lead dog.
Tiniiko grew up fast, and he was a good learner. Jonathan soon hooked him in front of the team and they took off into the woods. What a thrill, the team never ran so fast. Jonathan knew that he and his team would win many sled races with Tiniiko leading. And that’s just what happened. Jonathan and his beloved Tiniiko enjoyed many runs into the woods, races and camping trips together.
One snowy day in February, things were not quite right. Jonathan was hooking his dogs onto the gangline – that’s the line that connects the dogs to the sled - for a run into the deep woods. He did not feel well that day. But he did not want to disappoint Tiniiko and his team by canceling the run into the woods, because they were jumping with the joy of anticipation. You see, sled dogs want to run. Running is their work, and sled dogs love to work. So despite feeling ill, the good man gave the command to take off. The team shot forward like a cannon ball.
Jonathan once again felt the thrill this gave him every time. But he also felt himself getting weaker and weaker. After several thrilling miles into the wintry woods, his heart was beginning to fail. He stepped on the brake of the sled, but he was too weak to stop the team. He knew he was going to pass out soon, so he called to his brave lead dog, “Tiniiko, turn around, go home and tell mother and the girls I’m sick.” Those were his last words. Then he fell off the sled into the snow.
But the team kept on running. That’s what they were trained to do. So the brave lead dog had some trouble convincing the team to turn around and go home. He eventually got them turned, and after running mile after mile as fast as they could, the team stood in front of the house and barked and barked and barked
The two daughters ran out the door and found the team with the empty sled. Rescuers were called, and while the rescuers were on their way to the house, the dogs were quickly put back in their pens. The girls rode along with the rescuers on two snowmobiles, following the tracks the team had traveled on the trail. Finally they spotted someone lying in the snow. It was their dad. Unfortunately, the rescuers were not able to revive him. His heart had stopped beating. He had died on the trail, the last words spoken to Tiniiko, who faithfully carried out the instructions. The brave dog tried to save his master’s life, but the man’s time had come, and now the dogs were without their beloved master. The whole team, and especially Tiniiko, sensed something was wrong. They curled up in their houses and did not want to come out and eat for days. They were mourning their master’s death. Jonathan’s wife faced a tough decision, and she had to make it fast. She was a disabled woman with two young daughters, and now their bread winner was dead. There was no money to buy dog food, so the decision was made that homes had to be found quickly for the dogs.
So it was that Karen, a lady from Illinois who had a sled dog team, made the long trip to Minnesota and took Tiniiko home, to add him to her team. At first the great white dog was sad, but with all the love and attention he received in his new home, he soon began to love his new mistress and her family and the other dogs in the kennel. And that’s where Tiniiko continued pulling a sled, going on winter camping trips and participating in races. He adjusted to his new life and was once again a happy dog.
P.O. Box 634
Belvidere, IL 61008
ph: 815-566-6421
info