Today I met Tarrak. His name means 'my shadow'.
A big bear of a boy. A true gentle giant. 
Though his body may be old, his spirit is young.
And he's defied the odds and lived 9 years longer than anyone expected.
He's not in need of a home though - he has one.
But I think everyone should meet him, so here he is...

I recently shared this on a private facebook page where I follow the lives of my retired sleddog buddies and their adoptive homes... 
figured I'd share it here too...
***
::September 10, 2015::
On this day in 2013 I made 43 new friends. 
I don’t think I realized it at the time, just how much they would change not only my life, but the lives of so many others. How a community like this would be created and how many more retired sleddies would be helped because of them. Some of these new friends are no longer with us, but I will never forget them… they’ve imprinted themselves on my soul.
To those who’ve welcomed these friends into their homes, given them love and comfy beds…warmth and silly toys… expensive food and paid the vet bills. Who’ve embraced the challenges and have cried tears of utter joy and complete despair. Who’ve laughed and stared in amazement.
But most of all to the dogs - you’ve brought us all together and helped us as much as you’ve been helped. Loved us as only you can. And although this photo is just a small number of the new friends I’ve made over the 3+ years of following your stories, it was pivotal... and you all continue to give me goosebumps in your presence. 
Thank you to Sue, Kim, Jess, Ang and Penny for camping out and keeping them company during that transitional time. For playing with them in the day and keeping them safe at night, sharing with them the love they deserve, and helping them start on the next part of their adventure.

Pictured (with their names at the time): Arctic, Bowser, Candy, Chocolate Cola, Daffy, Dandelion, Gretzky, Gummi Bear, Heineken, Honda, Hooters, Hurricane, Ice, Igloo, Inky, Jet, Joffre, Johnny, Kawasaki, Kayla, Kilo, Kirby, Lady, Lucky, Manny, Myers, Noodles, Nooner, Nordique, Oilers, Pancake, Pez, Rocket, Rolo, Sapporo, Sausage, Silly, Snow, Sonny Boy, Sun, Whiny, Wiggles.

To view more of stories of these remarkable retired sled dogs, as well as maybe some new faces, please visit: http://www.wendynesbitt.com/the-sled-dogs-of-whistler.html

I remember being little and going to wedding receptions in rented halls and falling asleep on a pile of coats while the adults partied and danced into the wee hours, then being carried to the car, then into the house and to bed. It always felt super special to hang with the grown ups but I could only do it for so long. The yawns would start and then I'd crash with the sounds of 70's classic rock lulling me to sleep.
I kind of think of last night as sort of a modern-day version of that. But it wasn't a wedding reception in a hall, it was an outside rock concert downtown at the end of summer... the little kids still danced and ran around as the sun went down, but you could see them fight the sleepies as they tried their hardest to continue to be a part of all the fun the grown ups were having.
My parents came to the show last night, but they didn't need to carry me to the car this time... I did it all on my own.
Amazingly fun. 
Great music, great bands, great friends and family. 
A perfect capper to the summer.