AR-News: (CT)"Sled dogs pull in laughter at library"

Sun Feb 8 12:54:56 EST 2004

Sled dogs pull in laughter at library

By Alison Damast
Staff Writer
Stamford Advocate

February 8, 2004

NORWALK -- George Linardos hopped onto a wooden sled and gave the six regal 
Siberian huskies prancing in front of him a pep talk.

"Hip, hip," shouted Linardos, president of the Siberian Husky Club of Western 
Connecticut. "Go, go, go."

Elsa, Hercules, Jack, Mad Maxx, Jo Jo, and Sierra broke into a mad dash, 
tugging the sled and Linardos through the snow-covered field next to Rowayton 
Library.

A group of children bundled in mittens and hats and sipping hot chocolate 
could barely contain their excitement as the hearty dogs flew by, whipping wind 
in their faces.

"I think that it is really cool to see all these dogs," said Lydia Williams, 
11, a Rowayton resident who came to the library with her father, Jeff 
Williams. "You hear about sled races going on in Alaska, but you don't see it very 
much in Connecticut."

The sled dog demonstration yesterday by the Siberian Husky Club of Western 
Connecticut was the kick-off event for the Rowayton Library's centennial 
celebration. About 100 people showed up at the demonstration, many of whom got a 
chance to ride on the sleigh and learn about the dogs.

Siberian huskies are medium-sized with erect ears, a soft, thick, black and 
white coat and a friendly temperament. A group of six huskies pulling a sleigh 
can run 30 to 35 mph, Linardos said. The male dogs weigh 50 to 65 pounds; 
females, 40 to 50 pounds.

He affectionately calls the dogs his "little jeeps."

"There are bigger dogs, but per pound, these are the strongest dogs in the 
world," Linardos said.

Organizers of the celebration are hoping that seeing the Siberian huskies 
will inspire the community to read "The Cruelest Miles," a true account by Gay 
and Laney Salisbury about the 1925 diphtheria epidemic in Nome, Alaska, and the 
treacherous journey to deliver a serum.

Children are being encouraged to read books about Togo and Balto, two sled 
dogs that made the trip. Next month, the library will host a talk by Gay 
Salisbury.

"Having one book being read by the whole community is a real special thing 
and a way of bringing the whole town together," said Wendell Livingston, a 
Rowayton resident and a trustee on the board of the Rowayton Library.

The initial sleigh run, done with six dogs, did not go as smoothly as they 
are typically depicted in movies and books. It was the first time some of the 
Siberian huskies had participated in a sleigh run, Linardos said.

After running for about a minute, some dogs lost their bearings and jumped on 
top of each other playfully, impeding the progress of the group.

"There were six dogs, and some of the dogs didn't get the idea," Linardos 
said, wiping his brow after numerous runs around the course. "The concept went 
right through them. But at least it gets the dogs together. They get to 
socialize."

Koby, 3, a male Siberian husky, made his sleigh race debut at the event 
yesterday. His owner, Sharon Surette, a New Canaan resident, was excited to her dog 
in action.

"We wanted to hook him up to a sled and give him a chance to do his thing," 
she said. "He has never done it on the snow."

The slightly balmy winter weather, with temperatures rising above 35 degrees 
as the morning wore on, made racing difficult for the medium-sized dogs, 
Linardos said.

"The challenge here today is the snow is no good. It is slushy and mushy," 
Lindardos said. "Over 35 degrees, you don't want them to run because they get 
overheated."

Despite the less-than-ideal sleighing conditions, many children got a chance 
to hop onto the sleigh and go for a short ride around the course.

Lucas Aubrey, 11, got to lead a pack of two dogs.

"It was fun because it went so fast and was bumpy," he said. "I thought it 
would be sort of calm, but it wasn't."

Other children were impressed by power of the huskies.

"I like dogs, and they are cute dogs," said 6-year-old Delaney Nollman. "When 
you go that fast, you get a lot of snow stuck in your pants and on your 
face."

"It went a lot faster than other sleds," piped in her friend, 6-year-old 
Catherine Luchars.

The event brought together about 100 people, ranging from senior citizens to 
2-month-old babies.

"I think this is great because people of all ages can enjoy it," said 
Jennifer Korzenik, who came to the event with her husband, Peter, and their 
22-month-old daughter, Peyton. "This is something unique, not something you see every 
day. There is a mystique about sleigh dogs, that they are like wolves. But they 
are so friendly and are just great dogs." 

http://www.stamfordadvocate.com/news/local/scn-sa-nor.sled5feb08,0,6031733.story?coll=stam-news-local-headlines 

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