I Was a Sled Dog
  • Home
  • Galleries + Projects
    • The Sled Dogs of Whistler
    • I Was A Sled Dog, Part One
    • I Was A Sled Dog, Part Two
    • Archives
    • Books
  • About
    • Rescued + Retired Sled Dogs
    • My Remarkable Journey
  • Content Sharing + Image Use
  • Support
    • Resources + How You Can Help
    • Press
    • Help Support This Project
  • Contact
  • Blog

I WAS A SLED DOG BLOG

Colby, Nike + Bella

12/17/2022

 
Picture
Nike, December 2022
I recently had the chance to pop in and see a couple old sleddie friends, Colby + Bella, and meet a new one, Nike!

I first met Colby July 23, 2014, when he came into care. He then was fostered with my friend Deb so I got to see him often -- including a trip to walk the wilds of the Sunshine Coast in the hopes of Finding Apex, his foster brother, when he was missing.
Deb had nicknamed Colby the little Imp and it's true, he a little guy, with a very imp-ish way about him. Now that he's older and his mobility isn't what it used to be he gets breakfast, lunch and dinner in bed and the cuddles come to him. The imp-ishness is still there because he will get up for some smelly treats!
Last year, Colby's humans adopted Nike - who like Troy and Argus - are survivors of a sled dog company cruelty investigation here in BC. Nike is very, very shy, however, it's been recently discovered she's learning to like Jeopardy! Now whether it's really her love of the trivia show or the treats that come with it, or the regular routine of a daily family tv date, it's bringing this girl out of her shell, slowly but surely.
My heart melted when I saw her in her safe little nest - it's right outside Jane's art room and if the door opens, Nike trots in and takes her place under Jane's desk. Oh my heart! I can see why Nike likes it in there - not only is it a room with a creative, yet relaxing feeling - one wall is an ode to the dogs this family has shared their life with, all painted with love by Jane.
We had a few moments in the living room to get some photos, but since it was my first time meeting Nike I didn't want to push it with my scary camera so the visit was kept short and sweet. As I said my farewells I marvelled at the life Colby has had the opportunity to have... the love, the care, the agency to do things on his own terms. And I'm thankful Nike will get that same opportunity...

Next up was a lightning-fast visit to Bella's house. In February 2018, Bella came all the way to BC from Ontario. A survivor of a cruelty investigation, Bella was coming out west because we have such a huge and supportive sleddie community here and an adopter was already lined up! Deb and I met Bella at the airport and got chatting with some staff and relaying Bella's story and as the kennel was opened up and Bella came out one of the first things I heard was "she was a sled dog?" 
Yes, it's one of the most common questions I hear and one of the main reasons I started this work.
Bella was a sweetie from the get-go and I've gotten to see her a few times over the years. She's such a happy, loved girl!
When I went into her house she was all tail wags and soaked up all the love I had. She hopped up on her sofa (the family keeps a sofa by the window that is all hers!) and lay down. But then she hopped off and I could tell something had changed... she didn't like my camera. I managed to get a couple more photos stealthily, but I really don't like pushing it - especially in their home, their safe space.
Her mom told me Bella's doing mostly well but is having some episodes that they're trying to sort out with their vet. Otherwise she's happy and loves her walks and runs in the school grounds across from their house!
It was much too short of a visit, but plans are in the works for another visit in the new year.

Big hugs to these families!
​Until then friends!
​xo

Colby - muti-colour floof
Nike - white as snow
Bella - black with cute, little snout spots

Comments are closed.

    Archives

    March 2025
    December 2024
    November 2024
    July 2024
    May 2024
    March 2024
    January 2024
    December 2023
    October 2023
    September 2023
    August 2023
    June 2023
    May 2023
    April 2023
    March 2023
    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    November 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    October 2018
    November 2017
    March 2017
    July 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    July 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014

    Categories
    (of dogs named in blog only)

    All
    Ace
    Angel
    Apex
    Argus
    Arwen
    Ash
    Baloo
    Bamboo
    Batman
    Bear
    Bella
    Berta
    Betty
    Biggie
    Birch
    Black
    Blizzard
    Blue
    Blue's Pups
    Bran
    Bruno
    Calli
    Cally
    Camino
    Cane
    Cap
    Casey
    Catty
    Centurion
    Chase
    Cherry
    ChiChi
    Clyde
    Cola
    Cola2
    Colby
    Comet
    Copper
    Cruz
    Cuddles
    Cutie
    Daffy
    Daisy
    Dandelion
    Dave
    Dawson
    Farmer
    Felix
    Fiddle
    Flash
    Frankie
    Gadget
    Galute
    Ginny
    Gino
    Goldie
    Grey
    Hailey
    Herman
    Holstein
    Homer
    Hurricane
    Ice
    Idefix
    Jack
    Jasper
    Jo
    Jon Snow
    Junebug
    Kayou
    Kc
    Keni
    Kepler
    Kerri
    Kerry
    Kirika
    Kit
    Knik
    Lefty
    Lion
    Loki
    Loretta
    Louie1
    Louie2
    Louise
    Lucy
    Luna1
    Luna2
    Lunar
    Maddy
    Magic
    Mars
    Mary Kate
    Meso
    Millie
    Moon
    Morley
    Mossy
    Nike
    Nina
    Niv
    Nordique
    Oak
    Olaf
    Oman
    Otter
    Pancake
    Patsy
    Peaches
    Penny
    Penny '24
    Pharaoh
    Picasso
    Piper
    Pique
    Pluto
    Porsche
    Portia
    Pumpkin
    Punk
    Question
    Raspberry
    Red
    Rio
    River
    Robbie
    Rocket 23
    Roo
    Samwell
    Sassy
    Saturn
    Serabe
    Shanti
    Shining
    Shivers
    Shrek
    Siku
    Silly
    Sinatra
    Sky
    Smokey
    Snickers
    Sonny
    Sparkle
    Sparky
    Sparky2
    Spinner
    Splash
    Stevie
    Storm
    Stuart
    Stuart Little
    Sun
    Teddy
    Tig
    Tiger
    TJ
    Toledo
    Trixie
    Troy
    Twister
    Vinnie
    Watsit
    Whistle
    Whistler
    Willy
    Willy's Pups
    Yale
    Yamaha
    Yang
    Ying
    Yukon
    Zouave

    RSS Feed

About

  • Rescued + Retired Sled Dogs
  • My Remarkable Journey

Galleries + Projects

Support

  • The Sled Dogs of Whistler
  • I Was A Sled Dog, Part One
  • I Was A Sled Dog Too, Part Two 
  • Archives
  • ​Books
  • Blog
  • Content Sharing + Image Usage
  • Resources + How You Can Help
  • Contribute to Help Keep This Project Going
  • Press
  • ​Fundraising
  • FAQ

Contact

  • Contact
All content on this is site is copyright protected.
© Wendy Nesbitt  // All rights reserved.
  • Home
  • Galleries + Projects
    • The Sled Dogs of Whistler
    • I Was A Sled Dog, Part One
    • I Was A Sled Dog, Part Two
    • Archives
    • Books
  • About
    • Rescued + Retired Sled Dogs
    • My Remarkable Journey
  • Content Sharing + Image Use
  • Support
    • Resources + How You Can Help
    • Press
    • Help Support This Project
  • Contact
  • Blog