Charlie... Riga's partner in crime, squirrel hunting enthusiast, moose chaser extraordinaire and top ranked food connoisseur of k9 cuisines. Riga has had her day in the spot light now it's Charlies turn. We got him about four years ago from the Fairbanks shelter. If we had the motivation a great book could be written about all of his near catastrophic adventures. I'm sure you are probably thinking right know, "all dogs have adventures, what's so special about Charlie?" Let me tell you. Every six months he seems to get into some form of trouble that we could not have imagined in our wildest dreams. It started out simple like getting too interested in porcupines and having his face loaded with quills (along with Riga who got the majority of them). Fortunately Becky was around to have them pulled out. With his strong affection towards large ungulates he's been kicked by both a moose and horse. A few summers back he and Riga feel into a stream with swift current and step banks that they could not climb. Becky once again had to same their asses. Last winter while we were skiing along the frozen Chatinika River Charlie pounced like he was going to land on a small snow borrowing rodent only to punch through the snow and ice and land three feet down in the flowing river. He came very close to being swept under before having his human chaperons pull him out. While we were saving Charlie, Riga came over to see what all the excitement was about and fell through the ice herself giving us two dogs to rescue. Two winters back Becky was walking the dogs on one of the ski trails in Fairbanks when she noticed Charlie missing. She called and backtracked but he would not come. She finally noticed him whining off in the woods. When she found him he was caught in a snare left by a trapper. Once again... Becky to the rescue. Last winter while wrestling with Riga his paw got caught sideways in the carabiner on his collar. Try as we did, Becky and I could not get his foot out so we drove to the local fire department to have them cut the carabiner off with their gigantic bolt cutters. I felt like the classic "my cat is stuck in a tree" person. About six months ago Charlie and Riga were wrestling outside as they normally do. Some how Charlie's lower jaw got caught under Riga's collar, Riga twisted locking Charlie's jaw tight and cutting off her airway. Neither of the dogs knew what had happened but where very freaked out. Becky, once again, saved the day by calling out to the neighbors for help and getting them untangled. It scared both the dogs so much they avoided each other for a few days after. I'm leaving out some of their adventures but this should give you some idea of the type of adventures these dogs (especially Charlie) get into every so often. Never a dull moment.
Sunday, February 24, 2008
Charlie Dog
Charlie... Riga's partner in crime, squirrel hunting enthusiast, moose chaser extraordinaire and top ranked food connoisseur of k9 cuisines. Riga has had her day in the spot light now it's Charlies turn. We got him about four years ago from the Fairbanks shelter. If we had the motivation a great book could be written about all of his near catastrophic adventures. I'm sure you are probably thinking right know, "all dogs have adventures, what's so special about Charlie?" Let me tell you. Every six months he seems to get into some form of trouble that we could not have imagined in our wildest dreams. It started out simple like getting too interested in porcupines and having his face loaded with quills (along with Riga who got the majority of them). Fortunately Becky was around to have them pulled out. With his strong affection towards large ungulates he's been kicked by both a moose and horse. A few summers back he and Riga feel into a stream with swift current and step banks that they could not climb. Becky once again had to same their asses. Last winter while we were skiing along the frozen Chatinika River Charlie pounced like he was going to land on a small snow borrowing rodent only to punch through the snow and ice and land three feet down in the flowing river. He came very close to being swept under before having his human chaperons pull him out. While we were saving Charlie, Riga came over to see what all the excitement was about and fell through the ice herself giving us two dogs to rescue. Two winters back Becky was walking the dogs on one of the ski trails in Fairbanks when she noticed Charlie missing. She called and backtracked but he would not come. She finally noticed him whining off in the woods. When she found him he was caught in a snare left by a trapper. Once again... Becky to the rescue. Last winter while wrestling with Riga his paw got caught sideways in the carabiner on his collar. Try as we did, Becky and I could not get his foot out so we drove to the local fire department to have them cut the carabiner off with their gigantic bolt cutters. I felt like the classic "my cat is stuck in a tree" person. About six months ago Charlie and Riga were wrestling outside as they normally do. Some how Charlie's lower jaw got caught under Riga's collar, Riga twisted locking Charlie's jaw tight and cutting off her airway. Neither of the dogs knew what had happened but where very freaked out. Becky, once again, saved the day by calling out to the neighbors for help and getting them untangled. It scared both the dogs so much they avoided each other for a few days after. I'm leaving out some of their adventures but this should give you some idea of the type of adventures these dogs (especially Charlie) get into every so often. Never a dull moment.
