DAKOTA

On the evening of April 27, 2006 Dakota closed his ice-blue eyes for the final time. With him were two of his loving friends from Tundra Spirits and one of the kindest humans we have met in many years - Dr. Bart Forlano, DVM. Dakota, like thousands of his fellow canines, was a “lost rescue”. He was a dog that no one really wanted, including most rescues. If not for this story he would only be a memory in the hearts of his friends. Dakota came to Tundra at the request of another Rescue. They asked that we save him from imminent euthanasia and to foster him for a “few days”. Of course they immediately forgot him. He came to us in poor physical condition, and barely able to walk. He had been chained in a back yard in Troy, NY for most of his 11-plus years. He was pelted by stones and firecrackers by neighborhood kids; and the humans responsible for him refused to pay the shelter fee after he had escaped and had been impounded.

It took a year of gradual exercise, good diet and TLC to bring him around. Soon, he was trotting with the best of them. His prospects for adoption were dim. After all, who wants to adopt a senior who has limited time left? But the fire in Dakota’s piercing blue eyes proved us all wrong. He actually was almost adopted by a super lady who later became a great friend of Tundra. Donna Quante, an award winning film maker, inquired about taking a senior into her small pack of huskies. We discouraged her undertaking, because of her busy schedule and frequent trips around the country. Little did we know at the time the wonderful friend our Dakota had made for us personally and the Tundra Pack!

He soon became the resident mentor at Tundra. New rescues learned some stoicism and patience under his piercing glare. His displays of affection never became effusive. But, once in awhile you would catch the softening of those blue eyes as if to say “You’re not half-bad for a human!”. He greeted children and strange dogs on his walks with dignity as a Tundra representative. Dakota began walking more slowly and occasionally lost his footing. Only Aniuk would accept his slow pace. With heavy hearts we knew that his time was coming.
Dakota was returned to the earth in a peaceful, dignified Native American ceremony. During the Mic-Mac pipe ceremony, a hawk circled overhead. He will always be a “lost rescue” to we who love him, because we lost our hearts to him. Mitakuye Oyasin, Dakota.

Nika Blue Eyes - Rescues Rule!!!!   

Nika was rescued after being abandoned by evicted tenants. Those same people had left her tied outside for months w/o shelter and little food or water.  They actually had done her a favor, because the next day, Maureen and Tom deHaan made her part of their family. She has been with them for 4 years now and they couldn't imagine life without her.

After getting Nika vetted and groomed, the real work of teaching her how to live with humans in a house began. First she had to learn how to share with Kodygirl, a Mal mix rescue already occupying a piece of the deHaan's hearts.   Nika has passed her therapy dog and CGC tests, and loves to compete in agility. They often hike with her off-lead. She has started harness training to carry on her sleddog legacy.    We at Tundra Spirits know how much work went into making the Nika story a success. The short story can never give credit to the hours of love and devotion that were invested.  Unsung heroes like Maureen and Tom are the real reason that the "tough cases" are won.  We are proud to know them and to have met Nika.  The deHaan pack calls the Kingston, NY area their home.

Adoption/surrender procedures

We would like to clarify some of our adoption/surrender procedures. We have received several applications and inquiries recently that blocked our response with a Spam filter requiring us to “apply” for approval to the sender’s email. Any applications or inquiries received with such a block will NOT be considered. We are a dedicated group of volunteers, folks. We do not have time to “apply” for response approvals. If you are serious about adopting a Tundra rescue, or want an answer to your Sibe question; then be courteous enough to list us as an approved sender when you send your inquiry.
If you truly want your Sibe to be considered as a surrender candidate, you MUST give us a name, address and phone number after our initial response. We will not commit our resources to listing a dog if you want to remain a “mystery” person. We are dealing with the future safety and happiness of a living creature and that creature deserves the honesty, sincerity and integrity of all parties.

One last observation on our surrender policy. As stated in our mission statement; our first objective is to keep Sibe families together. We will commit our energies 110% if you meet us at least half-way. Please don’t ask our advice and not give us the courtesy of listening. We are the ones correcting the mistakes of the $80 per visit “behaviorists” and “trainers”, or your neighbor “who has had dogs for years”. And we probably won’t even ask for a donation! If you really want to “keep the dog”, then at least make an effort.
We know that sometimes the decision can be difficult, but we can see through insincerity very quickly. We haven’t heard a new ending to the “He/she is a wonderful dog but.........” sentence in many years. If we accept the surrender, we promise to find a forever, loving home; your obligation will be to treat your departing friend with dignity.

At this time we can only accommodate two special-needs dogs at one time. A foster home for such a dog requires the supreme effort. Dogs in that category include those with behavioral
problems. Be prepared to make a surrender donation if your Sibe passes our evaluation. If your surrender needs a health update, you will be expected to pay for inoculations, tests, etc.

WHY RESCUES GET STRESSED

The following ad appeared in a local newspaper the last two days:

AKC Siberian Huskies
Mother & Father.$200/ea.
6 Pups, $500-$600.deposits now
rdy 6/20. 393-*****

Let’s take a look at the ad through the eyes of a rescuer. Why are the parents for sale along with the pups? If they were champions with lineage, they would be sold ( by word of mouth) to another registered breeder instead of thru a local newspaper ad. Why such a reasonable price when the pups are going for three times the amount? Of course the asking price for pups was arrived at by pricing pups on the internet or trade magazines. No information is offered on any tests (glaucoma, dysplasia) performed on the pups. Nor is any offered on the parents. Why is the whole brood being sold at once? Well, that’s easy.........either the parents are worn out, or the profit-making scheme proved more trouble than it was worth. In any case, a quick profit and they (the back yard breeders) are out of it. Just about anyone can get an AKC Certificate, in fact the AKC has recently adopted new procedures that actually encourage back yard breeding! Advertising puppies or dogs as “AKC Registered” is no guarantee of any kind regarding the health, disposition, or lineage of any dog. Rescues have been cleaning up after these back yard breeders for many years. Before buying a dog or puppy, check with a breed-specific rescue first.

Many surrendered/rescued dogs are pedigree, or come with papers. Think before you deal with any breeder. Check out rescue websites that work with the breed you are interested in. Those sites will at least give you a list of questions to ask the breeder. Legitimate breeders work with rescues of their breed, and they are there for the pups new humans long after the sale. They also will not sell a puppy to a home that they do not feel is suitable for their canine charges.