September 26, 2005
Off to the Races -- A New Virus!
A NEW INFLUENZA virus is attacking dogs and is already widespread at greyhound race tracks, according to several news agencies. The virus causes fever, a cough, and in some individuals progresses to lung haemorrhage and death. Around eighty percent of animals infected develop mild symptoms, which may last for up to two weeks. It is virtually identical to influenza virus H3N8, which has been known in horses for around forty years. Unlike some "species-jumping" viruses, this one seems to be highly contagious from one dog to another. Mushers should be aware that this one will probably show up at dogsled races this winter, adding to the already considerable risk of contagion at these events. The mortality rate for this virus is estimated at between 5 and 8 percent. Racing drivers who routinely "inoculate" their teams with common "bugs" found at races (usually by lacing drinking water with the stools of infected dogs -- on the theory "let's get it over with NOW so they won't come down with it at an important race") will have a tough decision to make this time, won't they!
Forbes.com story: "Experts: mystery dog virus is flu strain"
Reuters AlertNet story: "New dog flu virus came from horses, experts say"
September 23, 2005
Alaska's Permafrost is Melting
AN ARTICLE HEADLINED "Ice Turning to Mush in Alaska" on the WebCenter 11 news website warns that evidence of permafrost melting is becoming widespread in Alaska's interior. Fairbanks and other centres of human activity are already riddled with sinkholes and subsidence, but experts now warn that local areas of permafrost meltdown are spreading into the wilderness and that the point at which it all starts to thaw is fast approaching.
Vladimir Romanovksy, a Russian-born geophysicist at the Geophysical Institute of the University of Alaska Fairbanks, says that at the moment the permafrost is still stable, but is within a degree or two of the point at which thawing will occur, when "we will be able to say we are the warmest we have been the last 100,000 years."
It is feared that widespread melting of permafrost would cause a sudden release of yet more "greenhouse gases" into the atmosphere, further hastening the global warming phenomena -- of which this summer's catastrophic hurricanes in the Gulf of Mexico are stark evidence. It's starting to look as though life in the Far North -- and perhaps elsewhere -- is on point of changing radically.
September 20, 2005
Charles H. Belford, DVM — 1 Dec. 1919 - 17 Sept. 2005
AN OBITUARY on the Wilkinson-Beane Funeral Home website documents the passing of Dr. Charles H. "Sonny" Belford, D. V. M., on Saturday 17 September at the Lakes Region General Hospital in Laconia, New Hampshire.
Dr. Charles Belford with his leader Timmie of Gatineau
Dr. Charles H. Belford, D.V.M. and the Seppala Siberian Sleddog
by J. Jeffrey Bragg
The passing of Charlie Belford leaves me stricken nearly speechless. This man was the last survivor among the early titans of Seppala strain. Leonhard Seppala and Elizabeth Ricker are gone, as are Julien Hurley, Oliver Shattuck, and Charles' father Alex Belford. Harry R. Wheeler, William L. Shearer III, and J. D. "Donnie" McFaul are no longer with us. Dr. Charles H. Belford was the last survivor among the key players of that crucial era, the 1930s and 1940s. He first started his dog driving career in 1929; that career lasted for well over forty years. In those same years he went to veterinary school at Middlesex University (now Brandeis), acquired his DVM degree in 1943, and practised veterinary medicine most of his life.
He and his father Alex Belford operated one of the key racing kennels in the earliest years of the Siberian Husky breed. Charlie (in those days called "Sonny") was so deeply involved in his father's kennel that at this remove in time it is scarcely possible to distinguish their respective contributions. Together they deeply influenced the entire breed. Through the Belford Kennels passed an incredible succession of dogs whose contributions were vital to the development both of the Siberian Husky as a whole, and more specifically to Seppala Strain.
A short-list of historic Siberian sleddogs associated with the Belford kennel and its racing teams follows:
Kree Vanka (Ricker Siberia import)
Tserko (Ricker Siberia import)
Nutok
Mona (Belford brood bitch)
Belford's Wolf (Belford bred)
Belford's Smoky (Belford bred)
Nanna (Belford bred, sold to Wheeler)
Nanki (early Belford leader)
Nansen (early Belford leader)
Matte (Leonhard Seppala serum-run)
Bijou (Leonhard Seppala serum-run)
Kegstedt
Tony [of Foxstand]
Don
Fritz
Sapsuk of Seppala
Vanka of Seppala 2nd
Sigrid III of Foxstand (perhaps Belford bred)
Timmie of Gatineau (Charles Belford leader)
Otto of Gatineau (Charles Belford team dog)
Bruno of Gatineau (Charles Belford team dog)
Belford's Jalaper (Charles Belford bred)
Foxstand's Georgia
Buz of Seppala
Niki of Seppala
Ian of Seppala
Don of Seppala
Foxstand's King
Belford's Newt (Charles Belford leader)
The above list is far from exhaustive! Many more fine Siberian sleddogs, some registered, others not, ran on teams driven by Charlie Belford over the years. The above names are only those most recognisable today. They should serve to show how deeply involved Dr. Belford was in the history of Siberian Sleddogs and of Seppala strain.
Today almost no Siberian Husky people realise how important this man was to the development and history of their favourite breed. That only highlights the depth of ignorance now prevalent. That such a man's accomplishments can now be so little known says much about the way in which the AKC Siberian Husky breed has degenerated into a fluffy plaything.
Today several key bloodlines influenced by many of the dogs listed above still survive in the genome of today's Seppala Siberian Sleddog. The core Seppala bloodlines that came down through the Wheeler/Belford/Shearer/McFaul mainstream, the ones whose survival was perpetuated in the critical years of the Markovo rescue effort, could not have existed without such Belford dogs as Nanna, Kegstedt, Sigrid III of Foxstand, Foxstand's Georgia, Belford's Jalaper, and Timmie of Gatineau. Dr. Belford's leader Timmie was the grandsire of Lyl and Moka of Sepsequel, two of the Second Foundation dogs of the Markovo era. Belford's Jalaper, bred by Charlie, was the great-grandsire of Malamak's Okleasik and the double great-grandsire of Frostfire Anisette, two more Second Foundation dogs. Foxstand's Georgia, bred by Shearer, owned by Belford and resold to McFaul, was the grandam of Ditko of Seppala, Duska of Seppala, Vanka of Seppala (3rd), and the double great-grandam of Shango of Seppala -- four more Second Foundation animals -- as well as being present in the pedigrees of the other six! We owe Dr. Belford a permanent debt of gratitude for the dogs he bred, tested, and passed along to where they would do the most good.
The Seppala Siberian Sleddog of today, then, could hardly have existed without the fine sleddog stock that passed through the stewardship of Dr. Charles H. Belford, D.V.M. His passing definitively marks the end of an era. His enthusiasm for sleddogs and for dogsled racing, his deep knowledge of and commitment to Siberian sleddogs, his great ability as a dog driver, his friendly personality and his information-filled conversation were the hallmarks of a person unique in the history of our breed. There is no one left on the scene like Charlie, and I don't suppose there ever shall be again. He will be missed by many and I, for one, resolve to do what I can to ensure that he shall not readily be forgotten.
Charlie Belford's team racing at Lake Placid, NY, in 1952. Timmie of Gatineau at lead,Zoar/Majic point, Otto of Gatineau/Minka, Patty(?)/Nanna II, Bruno of Gatineau/Teddy of Gatineau wheel
Photos from the Belford Collection, courtesy Elsie Chadwick, Siberian Husky Archives, Etobicoke, ON, Canada.
For more information about the Belford kennel and its breeding, see:
SSSD Project Website - History - Alex and Charles Belford
Learning More About Siberian Husky Bloodlines - Belford
September 17, 2005
Litter Announcement: Seppala Kennels
Breed: SEPPALA SIBERIAN SLEDDOG
Date of Birth: September 16, 2005
Number: 2M 1F
Sire: DITKO DE CAL SEGÙ (ALADIN DE CAL SEGÙ x BUFIE DE CAL SEGÙ)
Dam: PIA OF SEPPALA (SHAKAL IZ SOLOVYEV x ZIRCONIA OF SEPP-ALTA)
Breeder's Name and Address:
SEPPALA KENNELS
P. O. Box 21162
Whitehorse, Yukon Territory Y1A 6R1 Canada
http://www.seppalasleddogs.com/seppknls.htm
Colours and markings: (M) silver grey and white, white blaze; (M) brown-grey and white, bald face, white neck markings and a lot of white; (F) fox red and white, white blaze.
Comments:
DITKO is our spectacular fox-red European import, half Markovo-Seppala and half Solovyev strain. Seppala component (4 great-grandparents) consists of Hercules of SA, RV Hurley, Karcajou's Dreama of Windigo. Ditko is son of Ramón Rojas leader "Bufie" and grandson of his Siberia import super-leader "Shapka."
PIA is our best point dog, daughter of our Siberia import male "Jackie" and lead dog Zirconia; granddaughter of Uelen's Beowulf and Powder of Markovo.
This litter is WCAC Identified and International Seppala Association eligible.
Litter Announcement: Tullibardine Chinooks
Breed: CHINOOK
Date of Birth: July 6, 2005
Number: 6M 4F
Sire: TULLIBARDINE POWER (NORTHDOWN OOTAH x PERRY GREENE NATANIS)
Dam: TULLIBARDINE RED SPARKLE (HOWLIN HILLS FOX MAULE RAMSAY x TULLIBARDINE MUSTANG)
Breeder's Name and Address:
TULLIBARDINE FARM LLP
808 Starks Rd.
New Sharon, ME 04955 U.S.A.
http://chinooktradingpost.com/puppyJuly05.chtml
Colours: Tawny and Silverfawn
Comments:
Smallest Male (22.25 lbs. weight on 10/12/05) - STILL AVAILABLE to an Approved
Companion/Recreational Sledding (non breeding) home, at ZERO $. Registered CHINOOK with the International Seppala Association. Interested Buyers, please complete our buyers' questionnaire at
http://tullibardine.bizland.com/puppyquestionnaire.chtml
September 09, 2005
ATVs vs. the wilderness
The Bureau of Land Management is struggling to come up with a new plan for the regulation of All Terrain Vehicles in the million-acre White Mountains Recreation Area north of Fairbanks, Alaska -- and Fairbanks News-Miner Outdoors Editor Tim Mowry thinks it's going to be a very difficult job. Future of ATVs in Alaska remains up for debate is the title of today's article in which he discusses the dilemma.
Mowry enumerates the advantages of ATVs as being great for dragging a dead moose out of the bush, training sled dogs in the fall, and "a blast to bomb around on if you're a kid, or even an adult who likes to act like a kid." But then, in an amazing performance for an Alaskan outdoors editor, he writes, "four-wheelers are a menace that threaten to rip out the very heart of Alaska--its unspoiled wilderness. They allow us to go places and do things that we normally shouldn't be doing. They tear up trails. They make too much noise. They kill people."
Personally, I don't think they are all that great even for training sleddogs. Few mushers are able to use them in such a way that the dogs don't wind up relying on help from the engine on hills, or "floating" on the fast straightaways. I've heard more than one person with insufficient dog-driving experience tell hair-raising tales of the ATV run that went badly wrong. Generally speaking, when you train sleddogs in the fall, you want to put the emphasis on doing things RIGHT, right from the get-go, which means you should accent control and hard pulling. Hooking 12 or 16 excited animals to a 500cc bombing-around buggy and taking off down the trail at top speed is not the way to accomplish that goal.
So now even the Alaskans are realising that big knobby tires and 500cc engines don't go hand in glove with the unspoiled wilderness. Well, while there's life, there's hope -- lets see what the BLM comes up with.
September 08, 2005
Get groomed for Iditarod!
GOT $50,000 you just don't know what to do with? Ex-California horse-trainer, now Iditarod musher Lynda Plettner will train you for the Iditarod for approximately that sum, according to an article "Profit in Pups" by Paula Dobbyn appearing today in the Anchorage Daily News and on the ADN website.
The idea must work, because Lynda has trained eleven Iditarod rookies, all of whom have finished, and the latest candidate is moving in next month. Plettner herself has run the Alaska long distance race eleven times; her best finish was in 2002 at 20th place.
If fifty grand is a little too rich for your blood, you can stay at Plettner's musher boarding school one month for $2000. If you're just a novice, the eight-session beginner programme that runs on a series of Saturdays in August and September is a bargain at just $250 -- if you happen to be staying in Alaska during those two months. The 350-dog Plettner kennel offers a plethora of other options, from $20 kennel tours, dogsled rides, winter excursions, leasing an Iditarod team, summer residency experiences, etc.
The Plettner Kennels website gives additional details. Ms. Plettner, 55, a divorced grandmother, sees herself as "an excellent role model for young girls" -- for a biographical/promotional sketch of Lynda Plettner herself, see her biographical page on the "inspirational" NASA Quest website sponsored by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, breeding ground of American over-achievers.
September 06, 2005
Katrina pets
Story of boy forced to abandon dog spurs efforts is the headline of an Associated Press story by Matt Sedensky carried on the website of the Houston Chronicle, adding a few more brush strokes to the heart-rending story of conflicting rescue priorities and the fate of dogs and cats in the wake of Hurricane Katrina.
I'm afraid the image of the dogs in a Mississippi animal shelter, dog-paddling for hours in their flooded pens and cages, trying to stay alive, will remain with me for the rest of my life. Amazingly, 125 animals actually survived this, in a shelter in Gulfport, MS, while 23 died.
The good news is the outpouring of concern, effort and funding to alleviate the distress of the Katrina pets as well as that of the human refugees. But no amount of good news can cancel out the multiple failures of organisation, judgment and will that caused so much preventable loss of life and resulted in so much gross misery right here in prosperous North America.
For decades now, ever since America put a man on the moon, we have been encouraged to believe that with the aid of technology, money and expertise WE CAN DO ANYTHING that we set our minds to, that whatever seems good to us to do, we can do it. Whatever seems evil to us, we can eradicate it by "declaring war on it," even if it is a conceptual, rather than a flesh-and-blood, enemy. First we had the War on Drugs. Now the War on Terrorism and somehow with it, the war to "bring democracy to Iraq." Drugs are still there. So's terrorism. Iraq's a seething mess, another tar-baby like Vietnam was in my generation.
What we set our minds to do has an unforeseen price, it seems. Money, time, effort and energy expended in these conceptual wars may or may not have had tangible positive results -- what is now obvious is that they WEREN'T expended in protecting the Gulf Coast from storm surges or modernising the levees that protect the port city of New Orleans. So, despite the new Department of "Homeland Security," in some very basic ways it looks as though the homeland isn't that secure. It was sick-making listening to FEMA bureau-rats comparing the broken New Orleans levees to "an atomic bomb." It wasn't a bomb, folks. It was a hurricane. These storms form in the Atlantic and the Caribbean every year from June to November.
Choices were made, priorities assigned, that ignored certain basic realities like hurricanes, or relegated them to third-class status. And guess what? Though maybe we can do ANYTHING, we can't do EVERYTHING. And in the wake of that little disconnect, people -- and their animal pets -- have suffered grievously... and needlessly.
September 05, 2005
Tragedy of New Orleans
It has taken me this long even to be able to write about what has happened in New Orleans. A natural disaster is one thing. Preventable tragedy is quite another. Yet worse is callousness and political grandstanding in the face of a preventable tragedy. The U. S. Government headed by President George Bush, obsessed with its own visions of terrorism, Big Oil politics, and "building democracy" in places like Afghanistan and Iraq, folded its Federal Emergency Management Agency into its new "War On Terrorism" command-and-control-centre, the so-called "Department of Homeland Security," slashed the budgets of the U. S. Army Corps of Engineers/Mississippi River Commission and other bodies charged with management of coastal and riverine infrastructures essential to hurricane and flood management -- and staffed executive offices with imbeciles, apparently. It was a recipe for the worst domestic tragedy in the history of the U. S. A.
The whole thing is almost too obscene to discuss. Bush, Brown, Blanco and others should be arrested and tried for mass murder. Only New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin came out of this looking like a decent human being as opposed to a political monster.
Reading through entries in the New Orleans Times-Picayune's newsblog, I notice a sub-tragedy in the whole affair -- the tragedy of the pets. Most (though not all) of the official "rescuers" refused to allow the rescued to take their pets with them when evacuated. Now, belatedly, there's a half-hearted effort to backtrack and try to help the hapless, helpless animals whose abandonment was forced by rescue agencies. There are some caring people who have tried to help, and the NOLA newsblog holds several stories about such efforts. Here is one example, Thibodeaux Church Sheltering Pets; a perusal of the NOLA blog (one of the best sources of real news about the New Orleans situation versus press-conference-crap) will yield several more such stories.
I ran across one very moving photograph of a black family in a tiny New Orleans house with flood waters surrounding the porch, who refused to evacuate because they would not abandon their dogs -- visible in the photo were two nice-looking Siberian Huskies. It says something about the enormous disconnect these days between "government" and real people, when poor folks in dire straits, immersed in a major disaster, have the moral fibre NOT to abandon their pets -- while all the big-name politicos seem to see in the situation is just another "photo opportunity."