Moonstruck's Ghost Writer 'Tascha" - December 15th, 1993 - July 26th, 2006  

Today marks one of the saddest days of my life. The end of an era.

 

Today I had to say good bye to a silly little girl named Moonstruck's Ghost Writer. You probably knew her only as Tascha, who, over the years has been my constant companion, creator of many laughs and equal amounts of frustration.

 

Tascha began her journey with me on Christmas Day 2003. She was 10 days old and given to me as a Christmas present. Lucky me - I couldn't bring her home until Valentine's Day! She instantly went to work teaching me what life with Tascha was going to be about. She loved running in harness, making us laugh, and little royal blue stuffed toys. Her favorite position was the front of the truck, the middle of the bed or the lead of the team. We won races, we lost horribly in obedience - and well - she just HATED being bathed or taken into the show ring.

 

Tascha taught me patience, Tascha taught me to laugh at all the silly little things in life. She taught me that no matter how bad things may have seemed - there was always a demanding little girl waiting for my attention.

Tascha taught me humility.

Tascha taught me that when it came to training dogs I had a LONG way to go. Tascha taught me to listen to and understand my dogs. She taught me all about this amazing, wonderful breed known as the Siberian Husky.

 

She taught me to run, smiling into the wind, and to watch the trail ahead. She taught me that it is okay to lose your dignity and roll on the ground in something smelly.

 

Tazzie was an amazing lead dog, a horrible obedience student, and always hit her mark on set - as long as there was a wiener treat waiting for her. She always leaped and screamed to get going on a run - and was quick to let the dog next to her know she would tolerate NO goofing around - unless - of course- she was the one doing it. She was a great 'Auntie' to pups, very vocal about her likes & dislikes, and steered me through some pretty rough waters in her short life.

 

I owe Tascha my life. If not for her - I would not have had the opportunity to realize & live my dream. I would not have had the wonderful experiences of working on film sets, with some truly amazing animal trainers and individuals. I would not have met my wonderful husband and would never have taken the plunge to do tours full time.

 

To Tascha - baby.. thank you so much!

 

There is a saying that animals have such short lives because they are here to guide us. Once their jobs are done - they pass on to their special place in heaven. Well - no matter that I was not ready to let her go, Tascha let me know it was time. And now I know that she is in a better place, waiting with her friends Simba & Kodiak for the rest of the gang to cross over the "Rainbow Bridge" and leading her celestial pack with as much silliness and 'give em hell' as she did here on earth.

 

God Bless you baby girl, Good bye and God's speed.

Tascha - remembered by others.. Jo White, Langley, BC:

I remember you coming to 'computer class' with great funny stories of what your little girl had gotten up to.  Still blows my mind the time we came back to your temporary digs in a high rise in downtown Vancouver, only to get off the elevator and be gleefully greeted by Tascha!  She'd always rather hang out with you than with the other dogs - I think she felt she was above the kennel scene!

 

She was certainly a big part of your life, like you say, she was with you each step of the way and loving it as you took a huge risk and followed your dream.  It was an awesome relationship you two had, you sort of guided each other along life's path. 

 

Take care, Tascha's memory will always be with me as I'm sure it has a special place in your heart.

Chantal Caron, Abbotsford, BC -  Oh Laurie I am so sorry.  I know how that loss feels, the one dog that changes your whole life for the better.  I can’t say I know how it feels to lose her, the way you did, but it is an indication of your tremendous emotional strength.  I know your probably feel anything but strong right now but that is because you just used up a huge whack of it.  It will come back; Tascha will make sure of that.  She hasn’t stopped being your tormentor, she just changed places.  She will torment your until the day you die.  Watch for the signs.

Mona Penner, Kelowna, BC - Tascha, because I have known you, my life is richer.  Every run, she will be in the lead:

Rodney Whaley - Franklin Tennessee - I am in tears myself about Tascha.  She too brought mushing back into my life back in 2002.  My first Nakitsilik run, I had Tascha, Nikki, Reba, Indy, Woody and Warrior.  I truly believe Tascha was the best lead dog I ever ran (to include the Anadyr's at Natalie Norris’ kennel).  I knew from the first time I was there that Tascha was your NUMBER ONE dog.  When she ran lead, she was definitely the boss!  She could hang with the “Alberta team” and never miss a beat

I have a wonderful picture of Tascha and myself that Dylan took.  I will treasure it along with my wonderful memories of her.

Thank you for sharing Tascha with me.  You are in our prayers.

John Brama - Aldergrove, BC - Sad news indeed, there were misty eyes here upon reading the news of Tascha passing as well. It seems such a short time ago that we were driving the motley crew to the tree farm to do a training run. I can still remember the first time I saw Tascha. You had brought your dogs to Joanne's for a 4-H judging class and you talked glowing about Tascha and all her fine attributes. I will always remember her as the take charge Alpha that she was. She always carried herself  as if  she knew she was special and carried out the responsibilities that went with it with such class. You said that Lead Dogs aren't made, they are born and Tascha was certainly proof of that. I will miss Tascha as I have and will miss all of the pioneer group. As each passes a piece of my heart seems to go with them. They have  become mortal too quickly and has put a bit of urgency to enjoy the time we have left with the ones who remain. Give Woody and Warrior and Cisco a big hug for us and tell them we love them and always will.   Love and Tears    John and Cathy     Nikki and Indy
 

Simba - unknown - May 13th, 2004

Simba came into our lives in 1999 and was a delight and the kennel clown. He had the heart of a lion, but was unable to run because of structural problems. It didn't keep him down though - Simba would run along the fences barking and howling and letting us know he was on the job - especially when the teams headed out for a run. Although only with us a short time, Simba was a rare and wonderful delight. He is still sorely missed

Mandabar's Kodiak - October 31st, 1994 - November 28th, 2005

Kodi was with us a very short time, and proved himself to be a loyal, cuddly, loving member of the team. He was great with all the other dogs, was hard working and ran in whichever position he was placed. He gave his all to the team.

 Sometimes, the dogs that are with us for shortest times leave the most profound marks on us.

   Chewy: Unknown - January 25th, 2007 - Chewy: of indeterminate age - Chewy was one of those 'invisible' dogs - she was always ready to play or cuddle, never pushed her way for affection and worked hard in harness - never goofing off or playing around while working. We lost our Chewy this past winter to cancer. Chewy is sorely missed by all.

Paco -  Sept 15th, 1995 - March 26th, 2007. Paco came to us after the filming of Snow Dogs - and was so much fun to watch work that I jumped at the chance to bring him home to join the lunatic bunch here. I never regretted the decision - as Paco was a constant source of amusement in the kennel.

From his stout heart and goofy trail habits - he could and would stop the entire team if he decided he had to have a poop on the go, from his diving into deeper snow while in harness and at full speed to rolling in the snow at every stop just because he could, and being Tom's constant trail partner for long walks, Paco gave his all, gave us laughter and was always a guest favorite.

Good bye my friend - Godspeed as you join your pals Tascha, Chewy, Kodi & Simba. wait for me at the bridge my friends.

Cisco: unknown - February  15th, 2007

Cisco was one of our first rescues - and had a heart bigger then he was. He was one of my orginal four racing dogs. He spent a lot of time with my brother, Mark and they bonded in a relationship similar to mine with Tascha. Mark & Cisco were inseparable. He loved the last few months of his life, just wandering around the property, too old to run and chase anything anymore - but too young at heart to give up totally. Cisco chose his own time to go and went - with all the dignity he showed in life - on his own terms. Cisco is very sadly missed by everyone he lived with and loved.

woody & friends 2002

"Woody" - WayMar's Woodland Warrior - May 31st, 2005 - May 12th, 2007

This news never seems to get any easier to share. Seems this is the year that I knew was coming and have dreaded for a very long time.

 

Woody - as most of you know is one of my oldest boys, and the foundation male for my kennel. Woody has always been a true delight and full of mischief, but always very gentle and loving and very accepting of his crazy mom's mistakes along the way.
Way back when I first brought Woody home - people laughed at me and said this pretty show dog was never going to be a sled dog - and then a few months later were blown away by the crazy harness banger and screamer that he turned into for running. Even after I had him debarked - he made more noise at hook ups than most teams of dogs altogether.

 

Woody LOVED his job. He loved schmoozing with the kids and joe public wherever we went. He was a grand lover - he romanced the ladies - even after he was neutered, and loved nothing more than a cuddle in the kennel.

 

Over the past year - and certainly the last few weeks - we have noticed that he has had a harder time getting around his kennel every day. This afternoon I went out to feed and he couldn't get up. He did struggle with my help and wobbled his way to the water bucket - but he didn't eat. This is quite possibly the first and ONLY time in his entire life, where Woody didn't inhale a meal in 30 seconds or less.

 

I have called the vet and Tom is going to take him in tomorrow. He is not suffering or in any obvious pain or distress  Tom has agreed to take him in because I just don't think I can take him in and have to say good bye to yet another of my very very special dogs.

 

Happy trails dear Woody - Tascha and Paco and all the others await you at the bridge

Nakitsilik's Dream Weaver "Drayton" May 24, 1998 - December 19th, 2007

 

You may have known him as Drayton.

To me he was one of the silliest, goofiest, most lovable lead dogs I have ever had the privilege of knowing.

Drayton, my friend you left us entirely too soon. My sweet sweet boy - you will be missed. But your legacy lives on in your kids, Mystic, Boomer, Data, Pilot, Ultra, Nitro, Radar, Riley, Relay, Vesper, Honey, Domino, Drax, Largo & Oddjob. May you run freely with the wind and wait for us all at the bridge.

 

I came home from errands in town this morning  - and the kids met me with a - "we have some bad news for you"... I couldn't believe it when Fabian told me that Drayton was dead. They were down in the kennels doing water this morning - and noticed that he wasn't coming out of his dog house. So Fabian went in and discovered him dead. What is so weird about this is that Dray ran on a tour yesterday and was fine, I sat and cuddled with he & sister Suni while we were on a break. There has been no sign of anything being wrong.

 

My heart is breaking from the shock of it.

Nakitsilik's Nikita - February 1995 - December 28th, 2007

 

Niki came to me as a rescue back in 1999 and had been horribly treated. It took 6 weeks before she would allow me to touch her back in a light touch without hitting the ground crying. She was pathetically skinny, and not the prettiest of girls. She quickly came to rival Tascha in  my affections because she was the sweetest, gentlest and smartest dog I have ever shared my life with.

 

As she became more confident that she was now safe and would never be mistreated again - she put on weight, was cast as one of the doubles for a character dog in Snow Dogs and went on to excel at obedience and movie behaviors. She had the best recall I have ever seen in a sibe .. except the one time she caught site of a deer in our back yard in Princeton.....

 

After Tom & I first met - the two became inseparable & Niki was never happier than when Tom would take her out for a walk - on his rare 'days' off.

 

Together with Tascha - Niki ran many many miles for me, for guests and friends - in lead and was a wonderful leader, an incredible companion and in her last few years after retiring from sledding - looked forward to her 'special' walks with my mother in law - in which the two grand old ladies would merrily wander & explore for hours on the trails and the roads around our property.

 

She curled into my lap and arms and this wonderful friend and companion crossed over to the bridge with all the incredible dignity and acceptance that she lived her life with.

 

Her gentle manner, and haunting woo woo in the kennel is sorely missed.

 

Godspeed my little girl - run free and with joy til we meet again. Say Hi to Tascha, Paco, Woody, Simba and the others who have preceded you.

Niki will be forever immortalized along with Tascha in the banner at the top of every page on our website. the two girls look wonderful in the picture chosen to represent us.

 

Other friends that have crossed the bridge this year include: Cowboy, Tasha, Cheemo, Kimo, Wendle, Chiandi, Dawson, Buck, Willow, Eric, Molson & Baloo.