i was a sled dog
i was a sled dog is my photographic study depicting the visual diversity of sled dogs
borne out of my mission to advocate for sled dogs used in commercial and long-distance racing
accompanying each dogs' photographs is a short bio completed by their adopter or
foster human to help illustrate the uniqueness of each dog
> please click on a dog to learn more about them
starting march 3, 2018, the start of the deadly Iditarod - a new rescued sled dog will be revealed each day with
the final dog of the on-line version of this project being revealed on
april 23, 2018 - the 8th anniversary of the second and final day of the whistler sled dog cull
at least 20 dogs in this project are survivors of that cull
a physical gallery of this project will be coming later in 2018
about the project
when i met my first sled dogs in 2012 they were not what i was expecting - they were bigger, smaller and didn't all look like huskies. over the years since, I've been documenting them for a variety of projects, and the one comment i hear from those not familiar with them is "THAT's a sled dog? he/she's so small! that doesn't look like a husky!"
yes, there are big fluffy dogs former sleddogs in this project, but there are also petite, single-coated dogs who weigh less than 50lbs
what i'm hoping for by sharing this project is for people to view the photographs, read the bios and make up their own minds about whether the dogs within are suited to living outside 24/7, 365 days a year. whether they deserve to spend their lives tethered to a 6' chain in a dog yard when they aren't pulling tourists through the snowy tundra. whether it's fair that they spend their time eating rocks, chewing chains, or being made to live and work for the benefit of human entertainment.
the details
> each dog was photographed within a 4'w x 3'h outline at my studio - the object was to have the dog stand within the outline of the
box to best show the size differences between each dog - it worked most of the time
> some dogs are wearing their collar, harness and/or leash, or are standing on a mat - this helped that particular dog stay in position
> some dogs would not stand in the box so they were photographed while walking through the frame or standing
eating treats off of the floor
> some dogs only would sit within the box
> some dogs wouldn't get close to the wall
> some dogs had no issue with what was going on and wanted to play
> although i had a specific idea of what i was trying to show, it came down to the dog and what he/she was willing to give that day
> there are signs of stress in the photos including tucked tails, low back ends, stress panting, avoiding eye contact, big eyes, ears pointing back - so some sessions were stopped before i got all of the photos i wanted because my desire for a super sharp image was overshadowed by my desire to limit the stress on the dog
> some dogs were nervous at first, but then relaxed while the humans talked
> some dogs just went and stood in position
> some dogs went and slept in front of the box after the session was done and while the humans talked
> dogs that i knew to be very outgoing were some of the most nervous indoors
> because a number of the dogs are survivors of the whistler cull of 2010, i used the term photosession, instead of photoshoot
> and most importantly... like all dogs - no matter what breed or breed mix...
no two dogs were the same - each dog was different
>> please click on the dog thumbnails to learn more about each sleddie <<
:::
*if you've adopted a former sled dog and are interested in participating in this project, please contact me*
all photos © wendy nesbitt ~ you are welcome to share the link to this project, but please do not reproduce, use, save
without my express written permission, thank you.
chichi
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galute
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ash
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fiddle
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copper
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silly
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sun
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daisy
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greygrey
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snail
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jasper
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beamie
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ashley
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mary kate
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luna
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storm
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lunar
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santana
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jeff
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river
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roo
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tj
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jack
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summer
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farmer
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sassy
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shrek
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pique
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niv
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eva
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eskobar
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lion
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nordique
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luna
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lucy
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charlie
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mila
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cane
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calli
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flash
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apex
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trixie
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penny
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stuart
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picasso
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kismet
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knik
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candy
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bella
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weasley
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kirika
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chase
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This project is for all the sled dogs who continue to work for humans because that's all they have ever known and all they will likely ever know. Their lives spent tethered to a chain, living outside with a plastic barrel for a home - in any and all weather - the ice storms, heat waves, flies, predators - until they get hitched up to pull again... and again... and again. Their bodies built for speed and endurance, but not for cold winters.
These 52 dogs above are just the beginning as I will continue to share my photos of sled dogs who have survived some things we will never know about.
Over the last seven years, I have chosen to focus my efforts on the 'after', because I believe that people need to put a face and name to the dogs in this industry. And through this project, I'm hoping that people reading may see a connection between their dog and the sleddies. That they can look into the eyes of these dogs and realize that it's not ok for them to live the way the industry says is ok. That the commercial and sport industries need to recognize the advancement of behaviourists and veterinarians (who have no connection to the industry) and see that they can do more for their dogs. They are not just a commodity. To ask that people please look beyond the brochure when it comes to this industry. From commercial rides at your favourite ski hill or wintery destination to the long-distance races that force the dogs to run themselves into sickness, pain and death. We can't turn a blind eye.
There are dogs in this project who were left tied up and watched some of their running mates starve and/or freeze to death, barely escaping themselves. There are dogs who witnessed the mass shootings and carnage in Whistler in 2010. Some were left in an outbuilding, sick and starving. When the sick ones died and the starving ones ate.
There are the injuries and medical issues their adopters can see, and some that aren't so visible.
The impact their working lives may have had on their minds and body cannot fully be measured, but it is the work of a small army of people from front-line rescuers to the non-profits rescues/shelters to fosters, veterinarians, behaviourists, adopters and advocates who continue the work to help the "cast-offs". Loving humans who will continue to smile, laugh, celebrate the joys and successes with the dogs, but who will also pay the vet bills, buy the healthy food and supplements to help their dog's arthritic joints, have their homes destroyed by behaviour issues because their dog has never been inside, be there when it's time to say goodbye and who will also cry, scream and be angry that it ever came to this. And they will keep going.
We humans domesticated dogs to live with us in our world but the rules seem to have been changed part way through the game for some. For sled dogs, a history rich in helping humans has turned into their exploitation with human ego, a skewed view of history, greed and the bottom line being how the game is now played.
These 52 dogs above are just the beginning as I will continue to share my photos of sled dogs who have survived some things we will never know about.
Over the last seven years, I have chosen to focus my efforts on the 'after', because I believe that people need to put a face and name to the dogs in this industry. And through this project, I'm hoping that people reading may see a connection between their dog and the sleddies. That they can look into the eyes of these dogs and realize that it's not ok for them to live the way the industry says is ok. That the commercial and sport industries need to recognize the advancement of behaviourists and veterinarians (who have no connection to the industry) and see that they can do more for their dogs. They are not just a commodity. To ask that people please look beyond the brochure when it comes to this industry. From commercial rides at your favourite ski hill or wintery destination to the long-distance races that force the dogs to run themselves into sickness, pain and death. We can't turn a blind eye.
There are dogs in this project who were left tied up and watched some of their running mates starve and/or freeze to death, barely escaping themselves. There are dogs who witnessed the mass shootings and carnage in Whistler in 2010. Some were left in an outbuilding, sick and starving. When the sick ones died and the starving ones ate.
There are the injuries and medical issues their adopters can see, and some that aren't so visible.
The impact their working lives may have had on their minds and body cannot fully be measured, but it is the work of a small army of people from front-line rescuers to the non-profits rescues/shelters to fosters, veterinarians, behaviourists, adopters and advocates who continue the work to help the "cast-offs". Loving humans who will continue to smile, laugh, celebrate the joys and successes with the dogs, but who will also pay the vet bills, buy the healthy food and supplements to help their dog's arthritic joints, have their homes destroyed by behaviour issues because their dog has never been inside, be there when it's time to say goodbye and who will also cry, scream and be angry that it ever came to this. And they will keep going.
We humans domesticated dogs to live with us in our world but the rules seem to have been changed part way through the game for some. For sled dogs, a history rich in helping humans has turned into their exploitation with human ego, a skewed view of history, greed and the bottom line being how the game is now played.
HOW CAN YOU HELP?
- WRITE! in Canada, sleddogs are no different than livestock in the eyes of the law. Write the government to let them know that they are no different than the dogs who sleep on our beds, on our couches, on our laps... etc. They deserve care, compassion, enrichment and respect.
- ADVOCATE! learn about the commercial and sport sled dog industries so you can arm yourself with knowledge and speak up for sleddies!
- ADOPT/FOSTER/FUNDRAISE! as long as there are sleddogs, rescues will need all kinds of help. If you can't adopt, maybe you can foster. If you can't foster, you can fundraise - from bottle drives to yard sales to however you can raise money! Sleddogs have often gone years without proper veterinary treatment and once into care, the bills pile up with not just spaying/neutering, but possible other treatments, food, harnesses, leashes and transportation to get them into care.
I volunteer with a local rescue, The Victoria Humane Society, and I've seen the bills that can pile up.
- HELPFUL LINKS & MORE PHOTOS
-- www.sleddogsfilm.com - a groundbreaking documentary taking a close look at -and inside- the industry - i am honoured to have some of my photos included in this film
-- www.humanemushing.com - a great resource with action alerts
-- facebook.com/from sled dogs to bed hogs - sled dogs from all over the world, living the retried life
-- facebook.com/whistler sled dog co - the Whistler cull survivors, where are they now
- WRITE! in Canada, sleddogs are no different than livestock in the eyes of the law. Write the government to let them know that they are no different than the dogs who sleep on our beds, on our couches, on our laps... etc. They deserve care, compassion, enrichment and respect.
- ADVOCATE! learn about the commercial and sport sled dog industries so you can arm yourself with knowledge and speak up for sleddies!
- ADOPT/FOSTER/FUNDRAISE! as long as there are sleddogs, rescues will need all kinds of help. If you can't adopt, maybe you can foster. If you can't foster, you can fundraise - from bottle drives to yard sales to however you can raise money! Sleddogs have often gone years without proper veterinary treatment and once into care, the bills pile up with not just spaying/neutering, but possible other treatments, food, harnesses, leashes and transportation to get them into care.
I volunteer with a local rescue, The Victoria Humane Society, and I've seen the bills that can pile up.
- HELPFUL LINKS & MORE PHOTOS
-- www.sleddogsfilm.com - a groundbreaking documentary taking a close look at -and inside- the industry - i am honoured to have some of my photos included in this film
-- www.humanemushing.com - a great resource with action alerts
-- facebook.com/from sled dogs to bed hogs - sled dogs from all over the world, living the retried life
-- facebook.com/whistler sled dog co - the Whistler cull survivors, where are they now