Dog-Crazed

As I have mentioned, I grew up in quaint little Durango, Colorado amongst the Rocky Mountains (although by McMillan standards, Durango is a bustling metropolis). And like most small towns, everyone knows everyone. On a short trip to the grocery store, I’m sure to see at least five people I know, meaning that any “short” trip is never short. But this is one aspect that makes the town so wonderful. That, and Durango by definition is dog-crazed. Everyone has a dog, or two, or three, and they bring their dogs everywhere. The dog park is not just a place of exercise, but it’s a social scene. Like a bar, the dog park has regulars depending on what time you visit. Ruby the German Shepard frequents the dog park around 6 after work, whereas Chacha the lab visits on her lunch break. You can expect to see a dog in many cars, most yards, and a good number of the retail stores. Knowing Durango’s obsession with dogs, it is no wonder that our little Alaska, sprawled out and posing for the camera, wound up on the front page of the Durango Herald. John Peel, a columnist for the paper, wrote a wonderful article about our recent school presentations and my dog sledding dream job. I’m so glad that I was able to go to my local schools and share the wonderful experiences I’ve had at Nature’s Kennel. Thank you John Peel and 9-R teachers!
Ms. Hillmer’s 6th grade class from Team Ocelot wrote some fantastic thank you letters with a few follow-up questions. I’ll do my best now to answer those questions!
1. Austin asked, “Have you ever seen a shopping cart sled?” and “What percentage of people actually make it to the finish?”
a. Austin, I must say that I have not yet seen a shopping cart sled, but that just leaves room for you to create one! Find an old cart, attach a couple runners, and I don’t see why it wouldn’t work. It might not steer the best, but that will only make it more fun! This year, 71 people started the Iditarod and 55 finished. Now, my math is a little rough (even though I’m currently a math major), but that means 77% of mushers finished. You’ll have to check my work.
2. Darby asked, “Could the race be deadly dangerous?”
a. Luckily, Darby, no mushers have died on the Iditarod. The qualifications are becoming more and more strict to help keep the slate clean!
3. Molly asked, “How long does it take until the pups are ready for a race?”
a. This is a tough question, Molly, because it depends on the puppy and it depends on the race. This year, we had an incredible litter called the Steeler puppies that ran in the Taquahmenon Race at 7-8 months old! In the Iditarod, the youngest dogs are around 1 ½ years old.
I hope I answered your questions and thanks for the opportunity to visit your class!