january 3.13: ford and his stuffies
Ford was a gentle fella... and so sweet. After his kennel was washed out one day we arranged the stuffies for him... he sat next to them all on his own. And after a couple minutes he moved close to me for pets and then looked back at his stuffies...
...so I put the photos together for his adoption profile...
march 4.13: sky, moon, ford + trudy
Every effort was made to keep siblings together when possible (provided they got along) and the shelter had some larger kennels so siblings Sky + Moon and another set of sibs, Ford + Trudy got to bunk together.
Sky and Moon have another sib named Sun who was featured in Part 1- and he doesn't look anything like these two! To tell Sky and Moon apart, you look at their ears... Moon has one that is always standing up!
Ford + Trudy's sled dogs names were Four-door and Two-door. Ford had been at the shelter a while when these photos were taken, but Trudy had arrived very recently and was petrified so I got one photo then got some of Ford and when I looked at Trudy next, she was sleeping (or pretending to sleep). These two had very similar markings but one of the 'tells' when looking at their faces is the white line up from the nose- Ford's goes up farther and straighter.
Trudy got adopted and Sky + Moon got adopted together.
Although Ford got lots of love, attention, walks and sleepovers to volunteers' homes, he became ill while at the shelter and died before getting fully adopted. At his end, he was amongst love and care and a couple of his special shelter humans.
I will always wonder why this sweetheart of a sleddie got looked over for so long.
Sleddie roll call: Sky, Moon, Ford, Trudy
Sky and Moon have another sib named Sun who was featured in Part 1- and he doesn't look anything like these two! To tell Sky and Moon apart, you look at their ears... Moon has one that is always standing up!
Ford + Trudy's sled dogs names were Four-door and Two-door. Ford had been at the shelter a while when these photos were taken, but Trudy had arrived very recently and was petrified so I got one photo then got some of Ford and when I looked at Trudy next, she was sleeping (or pretending to sleep). These two had very similar markings but one of the 'tells' when looking at their faces is the white line up from the nose- Ford's goes up farther and straighter.
Trudy got adopted and Sky + Moon got adopted together.
Although Ford got lots of love, attention, walks and sleepovers to volunteers' homes, he became ill while at the shelter and died before getting fully adopted. At his end, he was amongst love and care and a couple of his special shelter humans.
I will always wonder why this sweetheart of a sleddie got looked over for so long.
Sleddie roll call: Sky, Moon, Ford, Trudy
april 1.13: sky's day out
When the sleddies arrived at the shelter there was small army of trained dog-walking volunteers who would walk them. Some volunteers would also apply to take dogs on day trips or over-nighters to get them out of the shelter environment and help set them up for success in the home environment as none had lived in homes before. My friend Heather was a walker who brought Sky home for a visit one day and this ended up being the first of many sleddie gatherings in Heather's backyard.
Shannon brought ChiChi over too and the two had a blast as they probably hadn't seen each other since they were living at the Whistler kennels.
Heather's dog Saru watched.
I had more photos from this fun afternoon but they're currently missing. I say missing (not lost) because I inadvertently renamed some photos incorrectly when making Meetings With Remarkable Dogs in 2016. Every once in a while I find ones I thought were gone... fingers crossed I find the rest of these.
Sleddie roll call: Sky, ChiChi
Shannon brought ChiChi over too and the two had a blast as they probably hadn't seen each other since they were living at the Whistler kennels.
Heather's dog Saru watched.
I had more photos from this fun afternoon but they're currently missing. I say missing (not lost) because I inadvertently renamed some photos incorrectly when making Meetings With Remarkable Dogs in 2016. Every once in a while I find ones I thought were gone... fingers crossed I find the rest of these.
Sleddie roll call: Sky, ChiChi
may 4.13: chief
the two photos I got of Chief on arrival day... mesmerizing eyes.
Chief was adopted with another sleddie named Cleo and they came to at least one reunion.
They can be seen close to the far left (human in green jacket) at the November 2013 reunion.
Chief was adopted with another sleddie named Cleo and they came to at least one reunion.
They can be seen close to the far left (human in green jacket) at the November 2013 reunion.
may 26.13: rocky
When Rocky came in it was known he had medical issues, so when it was realized that finding the right adoptive home might take too long, it was decided the best course for him would be a foster home. Through a great local rescue network he was transferred into the care of a foster home his (un)surprisingly his foster mom ended up adopting him.
After Rocky passed she went on to adopt another sleddie, Eskobar to be a buddy to her wee little Hamish dog.
The time Rocky did spend at the shelter was up front with the staff as he liked to be close to people and was interested in what was going on... he was a super chill guy and got all the love and attention he could handle.
He also had the cutest little perky ears... all the time.
After Rocky passed she went on to adopt another sleddie, Eskobar to be a buddy to her wee little Hamish dog.
The time Rocky did spend at the shelter was up front with the staff as he liked to be close to people and was interested in what was going on... he was a super chill guy and got all the love and attention he could handle.
He also had the cutest little perky ears... all the time.
... here's another creation for his adoption profile- the photo of him on the dock was submitted by a volunteer.
july 22.13: buzz
Three views of Buzz that were used in his adoption profile at the shelter- he was photographed pre-evening walk at the community gardens next to the shelter.
Buzz got adopted but I've never heard any updates over the years.... I did use the photo of him with his eyes closed in Dogs With Their Eyes Closed, Retired Sled Dog edition. What a handsome fella.
Buzz got adopted but I've never heard any updates over the years.... I did use the photo of him with his eyes closed in Dogs With Their Eyes Closed, Retired Sled Dog edition. What a handsome fella.
july 23.13 new sleddies arrive
The last large intake of sleddies I captured at the shelter was July 23, 2013. Although I'd seen how sled dogs were transported, when I saw the truck back down the driveway at the shelter my heart ached. I'd seen images of 2-3 dogs in these little boxes and I'd seen how the dogs were lifted into and out of both levels... it was rough. Today there were just 14 dogs and they each had their own cubby, but I imagined what this truck had bring to mean over the years. It meant they got off chains, out of the dog yard and out on the trail where they could sniff the newness of the change of scenery. It also meant heightened adrenalin levels, excitement, fear, and a host of other feelings depending on the dog.
The dogs had travelled about for about four hours - including a 90+ minute ferry ride - from Whistler to the shelter in Victoria so when the truck slowed down, they wanted OUT. The staff and volunteers worked systematically, to get them out but the dogs had only ever known one way out, and it wasn't graceful.
Once out of the truck they all went into the giant indoor gym where they were checked over, vaccinated, had access to food and water and lots of space to stretch their legs. Shelter manager, Penny had her two granddaughters there this day so they oversaw the operations and helped with clean up.
I didn't know it at the time but I would cross paths with many of these dogs over the years... Question would become one of my besties, Eagle, Tuba, Cello, Mister, Bubba and Griffindor would all end up coming to reunions and I would meet up with Hopper in 2018 when he came to participate in Part 1 of I Was A Sled Dog. In this group was Ping, a one-eyed sleddie... I have an extra soft-spot for one-eyed dogs as I have one at home and I really wanted to get a good photo of Ping, but he would have no part of it... ah well... I was used to it by now.
This set of photos also contains one of my favourite photos- Tuba on the table! As funny as it is, the reality is that many sled dogs are fed on top of structures or their doghouses because of snow in winter so hopping up on a table was normal for Tuba and it ultimately became a teaching moment for adopters and fosters who were opening up their homes to these guys.
Roll call: Blizzard, Question, Eagle, Boo, Tuba, Cello, Owl, Ping, Mister, Muffin, Muselix, Bubba, Hopper, Griffindor
The dogs had travelled about for about four hours - including a 90+ minute ferry ride - from Whistler to the shelter in Victoria so when the truck slowed down, they wanted OUT. The staff and volunteers worked systematically, to get them out but the dogs had only ever known one way out, and it wasn't graceful.
Once out of the truck they all went into the giant indoor gym where they were checked over, vaccinated, had access to food and water and lots of space to stretch their legs. Shelter manager, Penny had her two granddaughters there this day so they oversaw the operations and helped with clean up.
I didn't know it at the time but I would cross paths with many of these dogs over the years... Question would become one of my besties, Eagle, Tuba, Cello, Mister, Bubba and Griffindor would all end up coming to reunions and I would meet up with Hopper in 2018 when he came to participate in Part 1 of I Was A Sled Dog. In this group was Ping, a one-eyed sleddie... I have an extra soft-spot for one-eyed dogs as I have one at home and I really wanted to get a good photo of Ping, but he would have no part of it... ah well... I was used to it by now.
This set of photos also contains one of my favourite photos- Tuba on the table! As funny as it is, the reality is that many sled dogs are fed on top of structures or their doghouses because of snow in winter so hopping up on a table was normal for Tuba and it ultimately became a teaching moment for adopters and fosters who were opening up their homes to these guys.
Roll call: Blizzard, Question, Eagle, Boo, Tuba, Cello, Owl, Ping, Mister, Muffin, Muselix, Bubba, Hopper, Griffindor
august 1.13: the group photo
taken from august 1, 2013 'from thought to fruition' blog post:
"Last week while out walking with my husband and our two dogs I had a thought...
Earlier in the week I had been at our local SPCA getting photos of some retired sled dogs coming in to the shelter - they were going to fill the remainder of kennels at the shelter. Max cap, if you will.
I've spent a lot of time, the last 2 1/2 years in fact, documenting animal care at the shelter. I have thousands of photos. In fact, I've created books for the photos and I'm creating another one right now. But it needed a finish. And while out on this walk, it came to me... I wanted to get a group photo of all the dogs at the shelter. But I needed humans to help with this. So on July 28th I sent a note to all of the shelter's dog walking volunteers asking for their help.
I had no idea if they could help, if they had time... I mean it's summer and a lot of volunteers had been coming in for extra shifts because the kennels were so full.
But in FOUR DAYS, it happened. We did it. We made history happen.
I can't thank the volunteers enough for stepping up. I can't thank Penny Stone enough for helping to make this happen. I can't thank the dogs enough - they don't know what I'm saying most of the time anyways!
And down the road when I look at this photo I will smile. Because I know that at this moment, ALL of the dogs in the shelter had someone next to them who loved them.
Here it is... fruition."
The session lasted for about 10 mins (4:54pm to 5:03pm) and that included a couple minutes of set at the start and some of the disbanding photos at the end, so there were about six minutes of the dogs having to stay (relatively) in one place... I think they all did so great! I even got a couple lens changes in and then I was able to hop off the roof, run around the building and get in a couple photos at the end thanks to my husband being there to help snap the shutter.
I've included a photo showing the sleddie count- it looks to be about 18!! I believe I have a log of all the dogs in the photo, so will look for and post when I find it.
The little dogs were at the front, the dogs that got along (including all the sleddies) were in the middle and the dogs who needed more space, at the back. We had one dog (not a sleddie) slip his harness, but the volunteers got him back quickly and safely. I think all the photos have outtake worthy elements - getting about 55 humans and 45 dogs to all look in one direction at the same time is an exercise in futility... patience wears thin for both groups pretty quickly!
This was the last time I would volunteer at the shelter- things were changing and I needed time to decompress... but I didn't get much time... in early September I'd be back at it, following Penny Stone up to Whistler to meet and photograph many more sleddies...
"Last week while out walking with my husband and our two dogs I had a thought...
Earlier in the week I had been at our local SPCA getting photos of some retired sled dogs coming in to the shelter - they were going to fill the remainder of kennels at the shelter. Max cap, if you will.
I've spent a lot of time, the last 2 1/2 years in fact, documenting animal care at the shelter. I have thousands of photos. In fact, I've created books for the photos and I'm creating another one right now. But it needed a finish. And while out on this walk, it came to me... I wanted to get a group photo of all the dogs at the shelter. But I needed humans to help with this. So on July 28th I sent a note to all of the shelter's dog walking volunteers asking for their help.
I had no idea if they could help, if they had time... I mean it's summer and a lot of volunteers had been coming in for extra shifts because the kennels were so full.
But in FOUR DAYS, it happened. We did it. We made history happen.
I can't thank the volunteers enough for stepping up. I can't thank Penny Stone enough for helping to make this happen. I can't thank the dogs enough - they don't know what I'm saying most of the time anyways!
And down the road when I look at this photo I will smile. Because I know that at this moment, ALL of the dogs in the shelter had someone next to them who loved them.
Here it is... fruition."
The session lasted for about 10 mins (4:54pm to 5:03pm) and that included a couple minutes of set at the start and some of the disbanding photos at the end, so there were about six minutes of the dogs having to stay (relatively) in one place... I think they all did so great! I even got a couple lens changes in and then I was able to hop off the roof, run around the building and get in a couple photos at the end thanks to my husband being there to help snap the shutter.
I've included a photo showing the sleddie count- it looks to be about 18!! I believe I have a log of all the dogs in the photo, so will look for and post when I find it.
The little dogs were at the front, the dogs that got along (including all the sleddies) were in the middle and the dogs who needed more space, at the back. We had one dog (not a sleddie) slip his harness, but the volunteers got him back quickly and safely. I think all the photos have outtake worthy elements - getting about 55 humans and 45 dogs to all look in one direction at the same time is an exercise in futility... patience wears thin for both groups pretty quickly!
This was the last time I would volunteer at the shelter- things were changing and I needed time to decompress... but I didn't get much time... in early September I'd be back at it, following Penny Stone up to Whistler to meet and photograph many more sleddies...
september 9-13.13: the trip to whistler
I previously blogged about this trip on September 14, 2013 with the title "What's Left...".
I posted it before I went to bed and woke up the next morning to a whole host of comments- some nice, some not so nice. I knew that there were some strong feelings between different groups from the area, but I was just trying to share what I saw and felt - strictly my point of view. I was just a human being who was observing from the outside what I saw... and although I may not be a wordsmith, I know the pictures don't lie.
I'll be adding more photos from this trip, but in the meantime, please visit the original post HERE.
I posted it before I went to bed and woke up the next morning to a whole host of comments- some nice, some not so nice. I knew that there were some strong feelings between different groups from the area, but I was just trying to share what I saw and felt - strictly my point of view. I was just a human being who was observing from the outside what I saw... and although I may not be a wordsmith, I know the pictures don't lie.
I'll be adding more photos from this trip, but in the meantime, please visit the original post HERE.
september 21.13: reunion #1 at the park
Penny and I were revved up after our trip to Whistler and with help from some sleddie parents managed to have our first reunion at a local park. It was a small group, but it would grow....
Original blog post from September, 21, 2013 'Time to Run' HERE.
Original blog post from September, 21, 2013 'Time to Run' HERE.
september 27.13: the video
After the trip to Whistler, I used some of my images along with others that were submitted by adopters, to make this little video to help showcase all the amazing sleddies for adoption:
Retired Whistler Sled Tour Dogs... ready for their next adventure.
Retired Whistler Sled Tour Dogs... ready for their next adventure.
november 11.13: lion's day out
Back when we called sleddies, sledders... I'm not sure when the name changed, but it did. Anyways, this was another fun gathering in Heather's backyard. Heather had brought Sky home for a day trip back in April and now she brought home Dandy (Dandelion, Lion). We were so excited to have SEVEN sleddies together- we had no idea how much bigger this community would get.
Wiggles (later knowns as Jack), Reggie and Joffre (later known as Jeff) came with some shelter volunteers and Lady + Manny came with Penny who had brought them back from Whistler in the hopes of finding them a foster or adoptive home, but they never made it that far... they stayed with her in love and care until it was time for them to leave this world.
Siblings ChiChi and Jeff had some playtime, but Jeff's true love this day was Lady (in the jacket)... he followed her and bowed down to her and when she laid down, so did he... it was really adorable. In 2015 I'd get to see Joffre as Jeff with his adopted human and it became clear just how much he LOVED the ladies.
Nothing was asked of these guys this day. There was just room for them to romp, play, chill out and for us humans to marvel at them.
All of this crew got adopted and I've been able to follow their retirement through the years. At the time of writing (April 2020) ChiChi, Lion + Reggie are still going strong- albeit a bit slower than they used to be.
Thanks to Heather for the photo of me and the gang,
For the original blog post, 'Sledder Day Out' from 2013, please visit HERE.
Roll call: Dandy (formerly Dandlion, now Lion), ChiChi, Wiggles (a.k.a. Mr. Wiggles), Reggie, Joffre (Jeff), Lady and Manny
Wiggles (later knowns as Jack), Reggie and Joffre (later known as Jeff) came with some shelter volunteers and Lady + Manny came with Penny who had brought them back from Whistler in the hopes of finding them a foster or adoptive home, but they never made it that far... they stayed with her in love and care until it was time for them to leave this world.
Siblings ChiChi and Jeff had some playtime, but Jeff's true love this day was Lady (in the jacket)... he followed her and bowed down to her and when she laid down, so did he... it was really adorable. In 2015 I'd get to see Joffre as Jeff with his adopted human and it became clear just how much he LOVED the ladies.
Nothing was asked of these guys this day. There was just room for them to romp, play, chill out and for us humans to marvel at them.
All of this crew got adopted and I've been able to follow their retirement through the years. At the time of writing (April 2020) ChiChi, Lion + Reggie are still going strong- albeit a bit slower than they used to be.
Thanks to Heather for the photo of me and the gang,
For the original blog post, 'Sledder Day Out' from 2013, please visit HERE.
Roll call: Dandy (formerly Dandlion, now Lion), ChiChi, Wiggles (a.k.a. Mr. Wiggles), Reggie, Joffre (Jeff), Lady and Manny
november 21.13: reunion #2, penny's house
After the success of the first reunion, the gang quickly set to work on a second, Penny graciously offered her own (fully fenced) property for the event and it was a truly magical day...
Please visit the original blog post 'And They're Off!' HERE.
Please visit the original blog post 'And They're Off!' HERE.