I’ve been an outsider to the world of dogs for most of my 27 years. While living at home with the O’Donnell clan, I was always told by my mother that we already have 7 kids and that clearly, we didn’t need anything else to take care of. A dog would lead to an increase in the intensity of housecleaning, so much so that cleanliness would mop the floor with godliness. As an adult, my aversion to owning a dog was borne largely out of selfishness. I never liked the idea of having to leave work early to let the dog out, or clean up after her, whatever, not to mention what happens if you want to leave town for a while.

This past July, the stars apparently aligned a unique way that prompted me to say “yes” when asked by Chrissy if I wanted a dog. A moment presented itself while attending a wedding in the San Juan Islands in Seattle this past July. Chrissy’s old roommate was looking to unload Freya, a husky-malemute mix, due to some uncontrollable circumstances (newborns). Freya was not at the wedding, so we didn’t have much to go on, except for a few consistently rave reviews from friends and family. We decided that the time had come to take the plunge.

Having lived in Fairbanks for nearly 4 years, I knew that it was only a matter of time before I would be a “dog” person. Having not been a “dog” person until this point, you kind of feel like that old guy who graduated a few years before you in high school, but continually would show up to high school parties. Awkard, alienated, and decidedly on the outside looking in. Looking in, that is, to a world of doggy fun and excitement! The companionship. The unconditional love! The skijoring (basically, you attach yourself to the dog via rope while you where skis and the dog pulls you around). My time had come. I had prepped for this day by doing some serious reading about dogs. Not your run of the mill “Dogs for Dummies.” These were real adventures books w/ dogs at the forefront (in no particular order).

1. The Plagued Dogs – Richard Adams

2. The Mad Trapper of Rat River – The Immortal Dick North (TIDN)

3. The Lost Patrol – TIDN

4. Cruelest Miles

Two weeks following the wedding Freya arrived at Alaska Airlines Cargo. My tenure as a “dog” person could begin! Here she is:

Here’s Chrissy gettin’ in on some of that unconditional lovin!

So apparently one problem dogs of this ilk have is too much hair in the inter-paw space. This overabundance of hair leads to the formation of ice-balls when running around in the snow, which is royal pain for our girl, Fifi. This is Freya mid paw-grooming.

Freya and I during our pre-game warm-up…

…and we’re off. Note all of the slack in the line. That’s not supposed to be there.