One year ago...

[Glacier]

What kind of dog is he??
He almost looks part wolf, he's very beautiful.

He's an Alaskan Husky. No wolf in him. He was born in a wanna-be mushers yard. Mom and sire were both sled dogs.

[Glacier]

Was he always afraid, or is this a result of his month on his own? If he won't go on a leash, then he doesn't join a team and pull, either?

He's always been extremely timid. He's actually braver than he was before he left. He came from a wanna be musher who thought it would be easier to breed his own team. Apparently the hundreds(if not thousands) of sled dogs around here who are already trained and need homes weren't good enough for him! He had one litter, decided this was way too much work. He gave away all the puppies, except Delta and Antare. He brought them to the shelter when they were a few months old. He'd done nothing but throw a bit of a food at them every couple days. The key window for socializing puppies was missed. Socializing after 16 weeks can be done, but it's much more difficult, much slower and some of that missed learning can never be made up.

No, Delta doesn't run with the team. He has a beautiful gait and I'd love to get him into a harness someday. Right now it would probably be overwhelming for him and just freak him out. His littermate, Antare, is also very shy but is a fine little sled dog. He's actually learning to lead. Antare asked to come for a run the second year he was here. Came and stuck his head in a harness that I was trying to put on a different dog. I don't expect Delta will ever be that bold about it, but when he's ready he'll let me know. He's only five so he has lots of time to decide.

[Cinder & Smoke]

One year ago today was the start of the longest month of my life ...
the day Delta disappeared.



A year later, I smile every time I watch him race across the yard, play with his brother,
every time he greets me with his morning wooooooooo.

I'm glad Time sometimes *flies*!

That was a Looooong month.
Lotta tears shed on PT ... prolly a lot more shed in the Yukon.

Let's remember to celebrate in a month!

[Giselle]

It's been a year already?? My goodness, Delta, time flies. I know your disappearence was traumatic to us all so I can hardly fathom how it must have been for you. Sleep well, though, Delta. You're home in the arms of a true angel

[chocolatepuppy]

I can't believe it's been a year already. Big hugs to you Delta.

[cmayer31]

Wow, I remember checking the Missing thread each day that I got to work and wishing for Delta to be back home. I'm glad that he chose to remember the month by walking into the house and not toward the gate!

He looks perfectly content to stay home and not have any more big adventures.

[Daisy and Delilah]

How could any of us forget about that boy being away from home? It's already been a year? WOW! You are such a handsome fella, Delta. Please have Mom give you some kisses from us. We think you look perfectly natural in the house

[dukedogsmom]

Poor baby. I'm sad that he'll never fully be able to relax. But, very glad that he came inside of his own doing. Maybe he'll be able to get back more of the joy that lots of dogs possess, over time. I know it must be hard to see him this way. He's such a beauty.

[Glacier]

Poor baby. I'm sad that he'll never fully be able to relax. I know it must be hard to see him this way.

I actually think he is a happy dog, as long as he's with his buddies outside. He loves other dogs, loves to play and always looks happy racing around the yard. He missed so much stuff he should have learned as a very young puppy. His world is more limited because of that, but I think he enjoys his little corner of the world.

[Twisterdog]

My sister has a dog that sounds just like Delta.

We rescued 40+ Sibes staked out in the desert by a very, shall we say, "unbalanced" gentleman. Some of these dogs were completely feral, especially a litter of nine month old pups that had spent their entire lives staked on a six foot chain in the middle of the desert, with no human contact whatsoever except a 50 pound bag of dog food throw to them and a water barrel filled once every week or two. Literally.

My sister kept three of these puppies. It took about a year for two of them to come around to semi-normal dog status. The third one never will. Five years later, she is still pretty much feral. She will come in the house finally, after about three years ... but only when no one is home but my sister, and she remains absolutely motionless.

[cyber-sibes]

Antare asked to come for a run the second year he was here. Came and stuck his head in a harness that I was trying to put on a different dog.

That is so cool! You know, we haven't seen any picutures of that very handsome Antare for quite a while either! (hint hint)

[Pawsitive Thinking]

Was that really a year ago???

[ramanth]

Living with a cat that is now timid but was feral, I can completely understand.

I can't believe it's been a year already. I'm glad you're home Delta and don't run off again.

[finn's mom]

It is unbelievable to me that it has been a year. Delta sounds like a quirky, lovely dog, and he certainly found the best place for him to be. I was so scared for him the entire time he was missing, I don't even want to know what it was like for you. As much as I eat a healthy diet, KFC would bring me home, too.

[Glacier]

My sister has a dog that sounds just like Delta.

We rescued 40+ Sibes staked out in the desert by a very, shall we say, "unbalanced" gentleman. Some of these dogs were completely feral, especially a litter of nine month old pups that had spent their entire lives staked on a six foot chain in the middle of the desert, with no human contact whatsoever except a 50 pound bag of dog food throw to them and a water barrel filled once every week or two. Literally.

My sister kept three of these puppies. It took about a year for two of them to come around to semi-normal dog status. The third one never will. Five years later, she is still pretty much feral. She will come in the house finally, after about three years ... but only when no one is home but my sister, and she remains absolutely motionless.

I remember that rescue. Unbalanced is a very PC way to put it!

That's exactly how Delta is and very similar to how he spent his puppyhood. There isn't an ounce of aggression in him. When he is overwhelmed, he just goes limp and won't move. This past weekend was the first time he's ever moved around the house! He didn't move much on his own, but he followed Muskwa around for awhile.