in loving memory

Sleddie reunion, Sept 27, 2014

This post is in remembrance of the Whistler sled dogs who were killed over the course of two days, April 21 and 23, 2010.

It's because of this atrocity that this project was born, 14 years ago. After the massacre, "experts" were weighing in on what would happen to the surviving dogs. So many said sled dogs could never live in a home, never be "pets". They weren't built for domestic life. It was getting tiring hearing the same old lines and I knew from my years being around so many shelter dogs who had come from such a diverse range of unfit situations (from outright abuse and getting shot to being surrendered because a hair cut cost too much) that it would be up to the dogs. They just needed the chance.

So when survivors of Whistler started to arrive at the shelter it was pretty obvious that these dogs were going to prove those "experts"  wrong. 

They were lovely, friendly, social with other dogs and followed us around. And when they got adopted, they were so loved. 
It's because of some of these adopting families that I got to know the dogs more - going out on walks and adventures and hearing how life was going for them.
For some, the road to settling in was harder. But the same can be said for any dog being adopted into a new home. Again, they just needed the chance.

Our community began to grow so we planned reunions, where 50+ former Whistler sled dogs came together to sniff and romp and just hang out. 
It was magical.

Today, most, if not all, of the original Whistler survivors have now passed away, but there has been a steady stream of former sled dogs from Whistler and beyond who've need of a soft place to land. And the community here has been ready to step up to help. 

But as long as there are sled dog operations, shelters and rescues will be called on to help with re-homing these special dogs.
So more help is always needed.

Today, I light a candle for those who lost their lives.
And to the 269 former sled dogs I've met and photographed over the last 14 years, thank you for being such beautiful, honest ambassadors.

Abby, Ace, Adora, Angel, Apex, Arctic, Argus, Arwen, Ash, Ashley, Aussie, Baloo (BigBoy), Bamboo, Barca, Batman, Beamie, Bear, Bella, Berta, Betty, Big, Biggie, Birch, Black, Blizzard, Blue, Blue's puppies 1, 2 +3, Boo, Bowser, Bran, Bruno, Bubba, Buzz, Cain, Calli, Cally, Camino, Candy, Cane, Cap, Casey, Catty, Cello, Centurion, Charlie ('14), Charlie ('17), Chase, Cherry, ChiChi, Chief, Chocolate, Cleo, Clyde, Cocoa, Cola, Colby, Comet, Copper, Coyote, Cruz, Cuddles, Cutie, Daffy, Daisy, Dave, Digger, Eagle, Echo ('18), Echo ('22), Elton, Elwen, Eskobar, Eva, Farmer, Felix, Fiddle, Flash, Ford, Frankie, Gadget, Galute, Ginny, Gino, Goldie, Goofy, Goose, Gracie, Gretzky, Grey, Griffindor, Hailey, Heineken, Herman, Homer, Honda, Hooters, Hopper, Ice ('13), Ice ('21), Idéfix, Igloo, Inky, Jack ('17), Jack ('22), Jakala, Jasper, Jeff, Jet, Jo, Johnny, Jon Snow, June(bug), Kawasaki, Kayla, Kayou, Keeva, Keni, Kepler, Kerri, Kilo, Kirby, Kirika, Kismet, Kit, Knik, Lady, Lefty, Lion, Loki, Loretta, Louie ('15), Louie ('22), Louise, Lucky, Lucy, Luna, Luna ('17), Lunar, Magic, Manny, Mars, Mary Kate, Meso, Midge, Mila, Millie, Misty, Moon, Moose, Mossy, Muffin, Murphy, Muselix, Myers, Nike, Nina, Niv, Noodles, Nooner, Nordique, Oak, Oilers, Olaf, Ollie, Oman, Oscar, Otter, Owl, Pancake, Patsy, Peach, Penny ('16), Penny ('24), Pez, Pharaoh, Picasso, Ping, Piper, Pique, Pluto, Poppy, Porsche, Pumpkin, Question, Raven, Red, Reggie, River, Robbie, Rocket ('13), Rocket ('23), Rocky, Rolo, Rondy, Roo, Samwell, Santana, Sapporo, Sassy, Saturn, Sausage, Schwartz, Serabe, Shanti, Shazaam, Shining, Shrek, Siku, Silly, Sinatra, Sitka, Sky, Smokey, Snail, Snickers, Snow, Sonny, Sparkle, Sparky, Spinner, Splash, Star, Stella, Stevie, Storm, Stuart, Summer ('13), Summer ('15), Sun, Sweetie, ​Tag, Teddy, Tig, Tiger, TJ, Toledo, Touché, Trixie, Troy, Trudy, Tuba, Tucker, Twister, Typhoon, Vinnie, Vixen, Wasp, Watsit, Weasley, Whiney, Whistle, Whistler, Whitman, Wiggles, Willow, Willy, Willy's puppies 1, 2 + 3, Yale, Yamaha, Yang, Ying, Zazou, Zeus, Ziggy, Zouave

To put faces to these important names: https://www.iwasasleddog.com/i-was-a-sled-dog-part-two.html

I would also like to take this chance to offer my condolences to the families of Bruno and Sparky. I just learned today that they both recently passed away. May they find each other and their friends and continue to run free. 

xo 
wendy