October 15, 2004
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Another Short Dog Tale
On the way into Willow to pick up a knife order, I saw a musher exercising a small team, six dogs in harness running along in front of his quad. I say his, but it might have been DeeDee–I just got a glimpse, but he or she looked slightly built, and the musher’s hair was all pulled back and tucked away. I had not yet gotten over that when, a few miles farther along, I saw another dog team–a full-sized one, six or seven pairs plus a lead dog in front–running along a musher who was definitely a guy (the full beard was a clue).
It really gave me a lift, I love seeing critters of all sorts as I drive along, especially when the critters are safely off the road. One of our neighbor mushers lost some of his best dogs a few years ago when a truck hit his team as it was running along the highway.
Some time later, heading back to Wasilla, I saw two dogs ON the highway, a smallish adult and a pup, just your basic mutts. I slowed way down and sounded the horn for probably the first time I ever used it on the highway, and they ran off onto the shoulder. I was thinking, geez, I hope they STAY off the highway, looked back and saw a small human taking care of them.
Whew!
Comments (3)
You reminded me of the purposeful-looking bird-dog type, running down the middle of the highway in town last night. He was obviously on a mission, looking for someone or going somewhere. I hope he completed his mission safely.
I love it when the dog teams go by here. It’s hard to tell whether Koji likes it or hates it. He gets so excited, barking and running to the window, I suppose since there’s no snarling and growling, he’s just saying, “Hi, guys. Go for it!”
I hope that “small human” takes them off the road and him/her…self also…animals always give me a lift of good spirits too…huggs…Sassy
I always shudder when I see animals unattended and running on or near the road-any road- and pray that they make it safe to wherever they are going. It makes me sad and mad that people would let their animals run loose ( in the lower 48 )because we’ve pretty much bred the street smarts out of them.IMHO I think it’s our responsibility- if we adopt them- to take care of them…How did the kitty you were feeding turn out? Oh, and Happy Belated Birthday! *HUGS*& Pax~Z