"Alaskan woman alters fate of doomed Huskies taking racing world by storm."

(Kasilof, Alaska – 1 March 2008) Jill St. Clair-Garnet has proven that lifestyle, environment and diet override genetics for her Alaskan Husky racing team comprised of dogs that had been abandoned or were candidates for euthanasia prior to being adopted into Husky Haven. Against all odds, Jill has championed her team to multiple competition Sled and Skijoring wins since arriving on the Peninsula 18 months ago.

The former Colorado resident moved to Alaska in October 2006 with her husband and nine adopted dogs. She wanted to pursue canine sports in the state that had designated Mushing as its official sport. Jill and her Husband left behind secure incomes in Denver, a large home and priceless mountain land in the Rockies before traveling into the unknown, hoping to find somewhere to live when they arrived. They rented a travel trailer braving weeks of temperatures holding at 30 below zero before they moved into their modest fisherman's cabin in Kasilof.

The first winter was more than a casual challenge for Jill and her expanding dog team. Anticipating an Alaskan community who supported the needs of sled dogs Jill was saddened by the fate of countless Huskies in Alaska. Young dogs that did not perform or grew too old to perform were shot, drowned, abandoned or dumped at shelters destined to be euthanized. She also discovered that sled dogs are well fed and maintained during the competition season in stark contrast to the subsistence treatment they received during the off season.

When Jill and her husband bought their 280 sq. ft. one room, little red fisherman’s cabin the lack of running water, electricity or indoor plumbing were not deterrents. There was plenty of land for the dogs and enough room inside for the couple and their four-legged family to cozy up around a small woodstove at night. They resigned to hauling water, improvising a toilet and living with a few hours of a generator for cell phone and battery charging each week.

Inviting the dogs into the house at night was a completely foreign concept for the seasoned Alaska mushing community. Dogs traditionally live outside in small basic shelters or on chains as the temperatures drop to unbearable levels. Some privately snickered at Jill’s indulgence of the dogs, but she ignored the criticism opting to pursue a better quality of life for her growing family. They went as far as to say, “Jill will spoil the "drive" out of her Huskies and they will never succeed as competitive sprint racers.”

She utilized Petfinder.com to make contact with Anchorage Animal Care and Control, Anchorage SPCA, Fairbanks North Shore Borough and the Second Chance League offering to take in dogs without options or who had come from ghastly situations. By the spring of 2007 Husky Haven had 13 dogs and the Red Shed Racing Team was stronger, healthier and more vibrant than most of the long time resident sled dog teams on the Peninsula.

During that first winter, before she settled into a routine, found a job or changed her cell phone to an Alaskan number, Jill began working with her team in preparation for local Sled and Skijoring competitions. To the shock and amazement of long time residents, Jill’s motley crew of Husky mixes began winning and placing in the top positions against seasoned teams claiming the best bloodlines in the sport. No one believed her wins could be a result of the team's ability to recover between rigorous runs by sleeping inside the cabin and being treated with individualized care and consideration. The local consensus was that her rag-tag team’s first season winnings were more enigma than substance.

Jill went on to prove during the next race season that her castaway canines could continue to perform at the top of the Alaskan sprint racing events. She has swept every competition on the Peninsula this season by placing 1st place in all events she has entered. The team from Husky Haven’s performance is comparable to the top sprint racers in Fairbanks and Anchorage. Heads are turning her way as people are taking note of her revolutionary kennel management strategies.

From the outset, she investigated and researched canine diets and supplements determining that each dog could benefit by individualized meal preparation and formulas. Turning to a high protein and fat dry food base, she developed weight gain, weight loss, maintenance and fitness recipes and a special mix for the oldest member of the team requiring a more senior formulation. Her recipes changed with the seasons, the training schedule and the individual dog’s needs. She often adds add oat bran, electrolytes, rice and raw fish or beef to support a complete nutritional program.

Jill recurrently drives 3 hours to Anchorage or as far as Fairbanks to purchase the food preparation mixes required to keep her team at optimal health. As the number of team members increased the basic costs to feed the dogs also soared. For Jill, the rising food costs, veterinary and other investments have been significantly offset by the results. Sometimes hunters or fish canneries will offer frozen meat, which supplements the basic meal plan, but the reality is that supporting healthy athletic sled dogs requires an emotional, personal and financial commitment.

Jill has adopted 7 new team members since moving to Alaska. Each came from a poor situation into the nurturing environment at Husky Haven where they have thrived and been given the option to join the Red Shed Racing team. No member is refused or imposed on the team. Adoption into Husky Haven guarantees a happy life, love and a wonderful environment. The dogs are invited onto the racing team only if they demonstrate enthusiasm for the sport. Several of the dogs love to train, but do not enjoy the stress of competition. They too are treated with every degree of respect and appreciation as are the formal team members. In a recent interview, Jill said, “With each adoption, I walk away with an unproven Husky. I believe my success in this process has been that I am 100 percent committed to each dog’s individual needs. If a dog turns out to be a couch potato I am OK with that.”

A typical winter day starts with a 5am wake up let dogs for their morning nature call. After another 90 minutes of beauty sleep the water pots gets started boiling by 7am and the dogs are taken outside for the rest of the day. Their morning drink consists of 1 quart of heated water with minimal food to encourage hydration and each dog also receives a previously prepared frozen rice & fish ball.

By 8am Jill can enjoy coffee and quick breakfast before starting the maintenance routine which lasts from 9am-1pm. She replaces straw in doghouses, hauls water from a local shop and fixes a few of the numerous and constantly breaking items around the house. At 1pm the boiling pot starts again for an electrolyte drink and raw meat. At 3pm Jill begins loading gear and dogs into the truck and by 4pm first team gets harnessed and ready to pull the sled at the trailhead. Training runs can be as short as 4 miles and as long as 8 miles permitting them to sprint out without taking breaks. The run distances are variable depending on who is running and how many are on one team and how they look that day. 5pm second team ready to go! 7pm back at the house and the dogs are eating raw meat. 9pm more water boiling and the main meal of the day is being prepared. By 10pm all dogs are invited inside the cozy red shed to sleep.

Jill’s routine may be extreme for some and rejected by the majority of sled dog owners, but for her, the remarkable health and performance results support her methodology as a caretaker of these amazing athletes. Their lives have been forever changed.

FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
CONTACT:

Jill St. Clair -Garnet
PO BOX 465 Kasilof, AK 99610
907-262-1073 or 907-953-9223