2009 Jr. Iditarod Photos

http://www.teachingwow.org/gallery/v/Mushing/racing/jridit09start/?g2_page=5
This link will take you to some photos of the start of the Jr. Iditarod today. These are from the family of Charlie Allison, who won the Jr. Yukon Quest.

Lots more great Jr. Iditarod photos and always great news and updates on the mushing world at http://gomush.com/

A few more Idita-doggie pix

Unfortunately I wasn't able to stay long, but did make a point of making a pit stop at HQ late this morning to snap a few photos of Eric Rogers' dogs while he had them there for their blood work and EKG's. Here they are lounging in the truck just after arrival.

Amazing, these tough Iditarod dogs who'll tackle the Happy River Steps and overflow without balking usually don't want anything to do with the steps into the trailer.

Bonnie tried to convince Dash to give the step a try but Dash wasn't having any of that. She seemed convinced these steps were just waiting to eat an Iditarod sled dog.

Deciding it was easier to carry Dash than reason with her, Bonnie just picks her up and carries her up the steps. Don't feel bad, Bonnie. I watched Bjornar Anderson have to do the same with almost of of his team one year.

Once inside, Dash wasn't any happier as she had to, first, give blood, then eventually head to the table for the EKG.

First, however, Dash made a quick fan in one of the vet techs. She knew just the right spot to scratch to make Dash willing to forgive almost anything. Just another day in the life of an Iditarod sled dog.

Iditarod '09, EKG's Mike Suprenant

Looking in the back of Mike's dog truck. The black & red (and white) at bottom left is a pile of booties.
Preparing to drop the dogs (take them out of the dog truck) for a brief potty break before they're taken inside for the examinations.

Hurry up and wait?
Bonnie Foster was on hand to lend a helping hand.
There's lot of lifting involved in being a handler, even if the dogs do help out most of the time by pulling themselves inward.
Sometimes the dogs need to be sweet-talked into coming out.
Convinced, the dogs show trust in their owner and handlers with a bit of a leap of faith.

Mike's behind the truck as they wait for Jan and her crew to finish setting up.
Wondering why they're here, the dogs entertain themselves.
Mike leads the way into the trailer as Bonnie leads a dog in behind him.
Blood-work is usually the first order of business. The dogs are amazingly well-behaved through all this, especially since they're largely surrounded by total strangers.
Soothing Trixie, first up on the table, Mike listens as Jan tells him what's going to happen and checks the equipment (below) to make sure everything is working as it should.
Clips are attached (sprayed by alcohol to increase "connectivity") and the EKGs are taken. Trixie is being VERY good through all this.