Of Dogs and Men

Without the brave, hardworking Dog, migration across the Arctic might never have happened. Sled Dogs were as vital to Alaska’s Native People as Horses were to the Scythians of Europe. For thousands and thousands of years the Alaskan Sled dog hauled supplies and people in scientifically precise sleds, made by hand, from Baleen and wood. They assisted with hunting and sent up alarms in dangerous situations.

In the year 1925 it was once again the faithful dog, along with a group of intrepid mushers that came to the rescue of some of Alaska’s northern communities. A Diptheria outbreak jeopardized the lives of over a thousand people living in Nome. Icebound in the winter there was only one way to bring the much needed antitoxin and that was by dogsled. A relay began that involved 20 mushers and 150 Dogs, traveling 674 miles, sometimes in temperatures 63 degrees below zero. Many of the relay drivers in the interior were Athabascan.  It was said that hot water had to be poured over one man’s hands because they had frozen to the sled.

Dogs are still important today, not only for mushing, but for companionship, for assisting the disabled, the police and armed forces. Dogs, I am sure were used for rescue efforts in Haiti recently. My hat is off to our canine friends. Canis Lupis I salute you.