The Fan Hitch, the official publication of the Inuit Sled Dog International, is published 4 times a year.  It is available to those who do not have access to the world wide web by subscription for $4.50 USD/$8.00 CAD to cover the cost of printing and mailing.  U.S. subscription requests should be sent to Sue Hamilton, Editor, The Fan Hitch, 55 Town Line Road, Harwinton, CT  06791, USA.  Send Canadian and international requests to Geneviève Montcombroux, P.O. Box 206, Inwood, Manitoba, ROC 1PO, Canada. * Contents of The Fan Hitch are protected by international copyright laws.  Neither photos, drawings nor text may be reproduced in any form without written consent.  Please forward these requests to the Editor at qimmiq@snet.net * The Fan Hitch welcomes for publication your letters, stories, comments and suggestions.

Apijuq's first day back at Toadhall      Montcombroux photo

The Homecoming

by Geneviève Montcombroux

What do you do when you get a call that the pup you sold six months previously is no longer welcome in her new home?

With lightness in my heart I saw little Apijuq go to her new owner. The person was highly qualified to own a Canadian Inuit Sled Dog and was warmly recommended. So when I got the call that the owner could no longer look after her, it came as a shock. First, there were excuses that the demands of the job, the relocation to a new part of the country, etc., were not fair on the dog.

I was horrified when I got an e-mail stating that "I brushed Apijuq this morning...and didn't realize how thin she was. Well, the kids were feeding her..." A healthy CID is never thin.

Two mushers who had offered to take Apijuq backed out, and I made immediate arrangements to get my pup back. So as not to create any obstacles, I agreed to pay her air fare and the return of the crate. This demonstrates the level of my anxiety.

At the airport, once the formalities were finished, the attendant wheeled the crate with a most subdued Apijuq inside. I did what anyone would do, opened the door, snapped on a leash, and took her out.  As she stumbled out of the crate, I cried: "Oh! My God, what did they do to you?" 

Imagine the skeleton of a dog. Then picture it with skin on top. Her tail was like a rat's tail, with just a tuft of hair at the base. Over the body, the hair was so thin the skin showed through. Apijuq was a perfect illustration of the expression "ribs sticking out". 

I carried her out to the truck and headed straight to the vet. Several hours and many dollars later, we had a diagnosis. For starters she had whip worms. More serious was a hematocrit bordering on the point of no return. Her complete blood count showed some elements right into the danger zone. She weighed less than 30 pounds. Her sisters weighed 55 pounds.

Now two months later, she is out of danger. Although still painfully thin, her hair has regrown and shines with a rich luster. With extra rich food, she is slowly putting on weight. Her hematocrit is almost normal. She is happy and runs back and forth on walks. She is the living proof that this breed is the toughest on earth.

Did I send Apijuq's fare and return the crate? No, I did not. I could have sent a large vet bill instead.