july 23, 2014

This write up was originally posted to the volunteer/advocacy section of my personal website. Penny Stone had left the SPCA and started up her own rescue, The Victoria Humane Society which has continued to help sled dogs in need.

"A sled dog operation in Pemberton, BC, closed and the dogs who worked pulling sleds needed a home. They were scared, nervous of everything and hadn't had much positive human contact. But VHS volunteers stepped up and started to help ease the dogs into positive contact with humans by sitting quietly with them and taking them for walks in a rural setting to get them used to walking on a leash and encountering new sights and sounds.... here is one of their first walking excursions... and even the young humans came out to help.
Introducing: Colby, Shivers, Dave, Felix, Mars, Frankie, Charlie, Apex, Sinatra + Punk"

I would encounter some of these dogs down the road, including one of my spirit sleddies, Apex. On this walk though he had to walk at the back of the group and if you looked at him, he would stop dead in his tracks. 
I also got to spend more time with Colby when he was fostered with my friend Deb, and then in the summer of 2019 I visited him along with a few other sleddies on a sunny beach in Comox, BC. I'd also reunite with Shivers, who was later renamed Lunar and participated in Part 1 of I Was a Sled Dog as well as Punk, who was renamed Willow. Willow's human was on her way to bring her over so she could be photographed in the project but her nervousness in the car made her so sick she turned around and took her home. Willow passed away not long after. 
After coming into care it was discovered Mars had a shattered hip or pelvis injury that had been left untreated and he had his back leg amputated. He came to a couple reunions and was evidently happier on three good legs.
Charlie is the brother of Trixie, who participated in the project.
Felix, who had dental surgery after coming into care had some teeth extracted and I ended up with them as well as some of Apex's so I photographed them. It was shocking to see the damage to these teeth. 
There are quite a few photos in this set, but I think it helps tell the story of this walk better. Although one image can be powerful, sometimes I find it necessary to show more of what's behind that photo. Sometimes dogs are super stressed in one photo and not so much in another and I want to be sure to tell as much of their stories as I can.