I wanted to take a moment and thank everyone who took the time to like or comment on the Heartland Mushers Association post from this morning. I have been cautioned and applauded, and quite frankly I realize that this is one helluva lofty undertaking. Forming a not-for-profit organization is tough enough if that is the only thing you do - I work, run this crazy household I lovingly call Haven de la Angels, and have my own dogs to train and enjoy. But the VAST majority of my mushing friends are so far away - there is no popping over to a park for a run with them unless I decide I want to leave the house at 3 am and cross an International border, or head to MI or WI, Northern Ohio and beyond. And in the winter time I am not crazy about driving in nasty conditions. So having at minimum a club, where we can talk dogs to our hearts content, mush and just be around good folks and great dogs, closer to home, just made sense. Add that to my living and breathing these Siberian people I love so, and my desire to not only pass on what I know, but help those dogs that need forever homes, or to help keep them in their current homes, I knew I would need to do more. So I looked to other clubs, and what they did/do, and thought that with the help of others, there was no reason why we here in the heartland couldnt have our own club and raise money for a rescue. The idea of helping makes me very happy - not only funding and exposure for the rescue, but if we can help people get into something the dogs LOVE, for bonding and the exercise, which leads to a better behaved, happier sled dog, it MUST be done. I am hoping that we can guide people with problem dogs into a sport that wears them out mentally and physically, challenging them, which helps behavioral issues. As a matter of fact with these Northern Breeds, it is TANTAMOUNT. For example say weve got someone with a busy dog, chewing furniture, shoes, etc, and the person is at their wits end. We can step in, get them set up and show them the ropes :) And the education to the population at large can have a huge impact on their dogs lives, as well as their own. Better nutrition, good Vets, grooming and exercise too, are all things we can share at demonstrations, interviews, one on one, the works. As for we humans in this mix, there is of course friendship and camaraderie. Lets face it, those of us with working dogs have to really be on it - they want to work, and it is up to us to give them a job. They are smart, smarter than the average bear, and tend to be a TAD more high maintenance than most LOL But what makes any group come together, and stay together, is common ground, and we have it: The love of our Northern Breeds and working dogs. And that is one very important commonality that sets up apart from non-animal folks. So with that I thank you all once again, and if you are interested in mushing in any way, shape or form, with or without a traditional sled dog, come and join us. I see good things on the horizon :)
Posted on: Fri, 19 Sep 2014 20:51:30 +0000
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