just a wee handful of the 175 former sled dogs who'll be showing up in my next photo advocacy book!

It seems like a lot of posts lately have been in memoriam. 
I guess it's part of what all this is- this project following the lives of a group of dogs over the course of many years- some for almost eight years now.
But amidst the farewells, there are successes and celebrations. Today was one of those days. 
My friend Deb has been involved in the sleddie group since adopting Question back in 2013. She then adopted Daffy, then started fostering sleddies. I have no idea how many she's fostered over the years but I'm guessing it's close to 20 or more. Along with fostering she's also opened her home to sleddie sitting on occasion. Currently she's got five sleddies in her care- adoptees Apex and Calli and her fosters Flash, Mary Kate and Roo.
I've met them all many many times over the years. We've been on walks together and they've come for photo sessions as well as to participate in I Was A Sled Dog, the project. 
Today they came to hang out at the studio- the whole lot of them. There was some initial fear because they don't often go visiting people in their homes, but they did splendidly! Once we sorted out the bed situation and made sure everyone had a comfy spot to chill out, they found where they wanted to land and that was it... until Deb had to use the restroom and then a few got concerned because she closed they door and they couldn't go in with her (it's a teeny room), but it all worked out. 
None of these dogs spent any significant time (or any time at all) in a home while they were working dogs, so we celebrate (on the inside, taking care not to scare them) when we see them settle into new indoor environments. 
Thanks for the visit gang!
I played around with some treatments on these photos. I don't usually process them much, but I think it's interesting to see how a filter or treatment can change the mood of the photo and can make someone look at that image differently.

Daisy passed away.

We met back in March 2015 just after she arrived into care with the Victoria Humane Society. My husband had come with me to the foster kennels to help keep track of who I was photographing that day (there were about 8 or so dogs) and this darling girl stole our hearts. There was something about her that connected with both of us, but we knew the timing wasn't right- we just couldn't bring another dog into our home at that time. Thankfully, a friend who was well-versed in 'sleddie' and had adopted GreyGrey, fell in love with her and she was welcomed Daisy into their super loving family where she spent the last few years having so much love and going on adventures and getting spoiled.
Both Daisy and GreyGrey participated in I Was A Sled Dog- coming to my studio to help show the diversity of the breed- these two couldn't have looked more different on the outside.
Grey passed away in November 2018, and then Daisy- the social butterfly that she was- got a new dog buddy.
But we can only control so much in the lives of our dogs and Daisy passed peacefully with all the
​love in the world at her side on Jan 26. 
Thank you to her family for bringing this sweetheart into your home and showering her with love and care.
Rest in peace and love dear Daisy.
​xo

I don't have a ton of photos of Daisy out romping around- probably because she was always on the move and didn't have time for me and my silly camera!

The game is called "pick out the sleddies"!

An annual walk with some friends and their dogs- some being former sled dogs, some aren't... can you figure out which is which?
[Hint: the sleddies are named below the photo gallery- click on their names to learn more about them as part of the I Was A Sled Dog  photo project]
​
It was more of a forest bathing mud bath after a big rain and wind storm yesterday... but nevertheless, big thanks to ChiChi + Tica, Trixie + Penny, Niv + Cedar, Mary Kate + Roo, Sassy, Fiddle, Jasper, KC, Chester, Falen, and your amazing humans for coming out today!
​
Please click on the first photo and then scroll through the gallery- there are 70 photos including multiples of similar images so you can see the change of tail wags, facial expressions and what the dog is interested in. There's a photo bomb, some blurry ones and some of the dogs just standing and looking around (there's always some of that).
This is all intentional as I want to help you feel as close to being there with us as I can, because it's that magical!

Three of the dogs on the walk today are survivors of the Whistler sled dog cull and 2020 will mark the ten-year anniversary of that horrific event. And even after all that happened, there continues to be sled dogs that need help. Animal protection laws for working sled dogs here in British Columbia, Canada and beyond are atrocious and it's incredibly sad and unfair that working sled dogs are exempt from animal protection laws in Canada, just because they're classified as sled dogs. But sled dogs aren't a breed- they're a mix of any number of breeds, and you can see the diversity in the photos below as well as in I Was a Sled Dog, Part 1 + Part 2. The fact that, for example, "Dog A" is classified as a working sled dog on a Monday and therefore exempt from the same laws that protect the animals we share our homes with. But when "Dog A" gets adopted into a home on a Tuesday, suddenly- as if by magic- he's covered by those same laws he was exempt from the day before. It makes absolutely no sense. The dog is a dog is a dog.

I could go on, but right now I want to  enjoy the memory of today's walk with these remarkable dogs and their wonderfully compassionate humans who love to celebrate them as much as I do.

Happy New Year sleddie family!
​~wendy

The Sleddies in blue: ChiChi + Tica, Trixie + Penny, Niv + Cedar, Mary Kate + Roo, Sassy, Fiddle, Jasper, KC, Chester, Falen

Whistler sled dog survivor Chichi is a grand 15 now so we went for a trundle through the forest at her pace...
except for her little sister, Tica... she ran enough for all the dogs combined!

the woodland trundle stars: Chichi + Tica, Saru + Chester, Mister Coco + Bella Boo

~ thanks to the humans: Shannon, Heather and Rob
xo

Pancake passed away yesterday, September 13.
I first met her at the Whistler kennels in September 2013. Over the few days I was there she became my buddy. I sent notes to my friend saying I wanted to bring her home. But we had just adopted a second dog earlier that year and he had medical needs of his own, so I said my goodbyes to Pancake when we left, not knowing if I'd ever see her again.
But I did.
In April 2016 her family brought her and her sister Midge to the reunion. I was super emotional that day and did my best to say my hellos but I think she was much more interested in seeing all her other buddies that day... I can't blame her... there were more than 40 of her former kennel mates at that reunion.
I decided to watch her from a distance and just love the fact that she was loved.
She was a Whistler sled dog cull survivor who got a lovely retirement.

 Rest in peace and love Pancake. 

Pique passed away last yesterday, Friday, September 13.
As a survivor of the Whistler sled dog cull, this gal landed in the lap of luxury at her adopted home and lived to almost 15 years old. I was lucky enough to go on many adventures with her and her family over the years - she was always a sweetheart.
Within the circle of retired sleddies I know, she is predeceased by her biological sister Question and adopted brother Sonny. She leaves behind her foster brother Coyote, her adopted brother Shrekkie and a whole bunch of family and friends who loved her to the ends of the earth.

Not one to turn down a treat, Pique would look at you with her eyes as blue as the sky and  you would submit to her wishes. 
​
Rest in peace and love Pique. xo

Something cool happened yesterday... I got to meet a new sleddie!

My friend Heather, who has a lovely ol' sleddie named Fiddle, jumped at the chance of fostering a young, newly retired sleddie named Bran for a local rescue. Even though Fiddle is 14 she is nothing but sweet and gentle and along with her other brother Ralph (not pictured), they're doing a great job showing Bran about being a house dog and that it was ok to take treats from me!

The info about Bran I was able to glean is he came from a smaller, recreational operation in the Yukon. He’s about 2 years old and the musher said that he just didn’t want to be a sled dog. I’m not sure what that means on the musher’s side of things but his foster home says that he’s a total snuggler. As soon as the opportunity presents itself, he wants to be up on your lap and snuggle. He loves people and although is a bit shy at first - something quite normal for dogs who are new into care - he warmed up quickly and took all the pets I could share.
**UPDATE**
Shortly after writing and sharing this post I got some more information about Bran and his background and why he needs a new home:
"When Bran was a pup he ate a rock and required surgery to remove it from his intestines. He subsequently spent a lot of his time inside recovering while growing up, so prefers the inside house dog life. His owner, “the musher” takes very good care of her dogs, rescues dogs from other places, and if they do not want to run/pull or would prefer to be house dogs then she finds them suitable pet homes. She contacted us when she was unable to find suitable homes in her area. She paid the shipping and crate expense to send Bran and Yam to Victoria. Yam and Bran are adjusting to indoor life, but they are very well socialized and have been around cats, babies, and are very good with other dogs and people. "

I’m thankful the musher saw he was not cut out for sled dog life and instead of forcing him to pull, selling him or euthanizing him, Bran made his way into the care of a rescue. He has since been neutered and the rescue will now work on finding him a super home.

Last but not least, I should also mention that Bran is a fantastic head-tilter and will show you his impressive extension for *just* the right sound! 

Welcome to sleddie life Bran!

Thanks to The Farm rescue for helping him and to Heather and her family for fostering him and helping him along this journey!

Please click on the thumbnails to see Bran + Fiddle in all their glory.

Today, it was a reunion of old mates from Thunder Bay. TJ, who was adopted in 2017, got to visit with his friends from his old foster home - Roo (his almost twin), Mary Kate, Apex, Calli, Flash and his foster mom Deb! Things were a bit intense at first - especially since all the dogs were on leash, but there was some good sniffing and a chance to hang out in the cool shade.
It was hot day here in Victoria, BC so there were a lot of long tongues and not a lot of running around, but TJ had some off-leash time which he was pretty stoked about!

TJ was adopted by the Umbrella Society and lives in a group home setting with one of the residents as his primary caregiver - in fact you can see TJ pop up on some of their blog posts! - and it's a beautiful thing to see a dog who has been so wronged by humans, learn confidence and know that he can trust again. 

To see TJ's portrait from I Was A Sled Dog, please go HERE

Three former sled dogs + one Piper dog set out to romp on the beach at Kye Bay, BC. 

Cane (formerly Hurricane) a Whistler survivor who I met back in September 2013 and who I wanted to bring home in my pocket. Cane has a bit of a wandering spirit so for his safety, he stays on leash. Colby (Colbs, the Imp) is the little man I met back in July 2014 when he came into care of the Victoria Humane Society. And Bella I first met her February 2018 when she was flown out from Thunder Bay, ON and whisked into the arms of a loving family here on the west coast. Piper, is Cane’s adopted sister and is the best photobomber dog around!
All of these dogs had fun running, playing and meeting new dog friends on a beach in the warm sun… happy dogs, cared for dogs, loved dogs. 
Dogs who are being loved for who they are and have been given space to relax, learn and thrive in the safety of some incredibly loving humans.

You may not realize it, but I think about sled dogs - both former and working - every day of my life. I see their photos, I know their names and I remember their stories so it makes me burst with happiness when I get to see them in person - being loved and living a life where they are treated as a beloved member of the family.

Thank you to team sleddie… wherever you are!