Wolfie's Call of the Wild Huskies
Meet Von's Huskies
Chewbacca - Command Leader
Chewbacca - aka "Chewy", senior member and backbone of Von's team, is a near look alike of Balto, hero of the original 1925 Serum Run to Nome. Chewy celebrated his 11th birthday during the 2009 Serum Run and was outstanding as Von's principal lead dog throughout the expedition. Unfettered by the worst of conditions, including white-outs, 50 mph headwinds, and minus 40 degrees temperatures, Chewy performed heroically throughout every mile of the expedition. The calm and capable leadership possesed by this amazing Alaskan Husky are conveyed in the riveting gaze of his steady, strong eyes. Gentle and reserved by nature, this "silver tipped gentleman" never faltered in harness and gave all he had each and every day.
Bacon - Command Leader
Brother to Grits, 9 year old Bacon is a little shy - but when running at the front of the team, is a true and reliable leader. Distinguished by his pink "snow nose", Bacon is especially fond of his brother Grits, who he always greets with a leap for joy and a gentle paw placed upon his shoulder. A proven leader with numerous mid-distance race finishes, Bacon worked very hard in harness every mile of the journey and seemed to particularly enjoy the whole experience - no matter how bad the weather got!
Grits - Command Leader
Nephew to Chewbacca, snowy white Grits resembles a beautiful arctic wolf with his luxurious winter coat and curious amber eyes. The most responsive command leader of Von's team, Grits was a late bloomer who emerged suddenly and unexpectantly as an exceptional lead dog at age seven. Confident and vocal, Grits is the playful friend of every human and every dog. Grits ran in the lead position for every mile of the 2009 expedition!
Sol-leks - Trail Leader (withdrawn)
Sol-leks, aka "Daddy's Boy", celebrated his 8th birthday during his stay in Alaska. Sol-leks, a Siberian Husky, is one of Von's very special dogs rescued from the Pierce County Animal Shelter as an unwanted pet in January of 2002. Since his adoption, Sol-leks has cheerfully run thousands of miles in harness and completed countless races. Possesed with indestructable feet and a tireless gait, Sol-leks has always been one of the hardest working dogs in Von's team. Sadly, Sol-leks sustained a slight injury to his left knee shortly before the expedition and was withdrawn from the team. Corrective surgery planned for spring 2009 will restore his ability to run and play during his upcoming retirement. God Bless you Sol-leks, you have earned this great honor!
Tigger - Swing Dog
Sister to Bacon & Grits, this darling little 43 lb; 9 year old Alaskan Husky is the fastest dog in the team! Able to maintain a blistering trot as fast the boys can run, Tigger is happiest in Swing Dog position right behind the Lead Dogs. Her job was to set the pace for the entire team while the Lead Dogs were busy picking out the best trail. This made her one of the hardest working dogs in the troup! A little shy but very vocal, Tigger is having the best year of her career. Tigger did an outstanding job setting the pace for the team throughout every mile of the expedition. Besides a good warm meal, all Tigger ever required at the end of each day was a nice long belly rub! Good things do come in "little packages".
Cherry - Swing Dog
This amazingly fast and petite little Alaska Husky has already completed two Iditarod Sled Dog Race finishes - her last one for musher, Laura Daugereau in 2008. Now this darling little girl is set to reprise her trans-Alaska legacy with one final encore - the 2009 Serum Run to Nome! Cherry will be helping Tigger to set the pace as Swing Dog running right behind the leaders. All this affectionate girl wants to do is run. Stop the team for a short break and she is screaming and leaping in her harness to get going again!
Birch - Team Dog
Willow - Team Dog
Blackjack - Team Dog
Pike - Team Dog
If ever there was a dog who deserved a place on the 2009 Serum Run, it was this handsome "gentleman". Rescued from the Pierce County Animal Shelter, Pike's early life is shrouded in mystery. Found ragged and wandering on the streets, Pike faced an uncertain future before Von rescued him in January of 2002. Placed into harness, this large and powerful Siberian consistantly performs as "solid as a rock". A regal dog with soulful eyes, Pike ascended to the rank of "Kennel Boss". With a special talent for mantaining order in the kennel by way of his even temper and pursuasive "swagger", Pike is truly a husky with "the heart of a lion".
Of all the dogs on the team, Pike most enjoyed the entire expedition experience and ran every mile with a tight tugline!
Of all the dogs on the team, Pike most enjoyed the entire expedition experience and ran every mile with a tight tugline!
Boomer - Wheel Dog
Patrick - Wheel Dog
Blackjack - aka "Jack", a 4 year old Alaskan Husky, is the youngest dog on the team. Jack was born and raised in Dee Dee Jonrowe's kennel in Willow, Alaska where he ran for her team as a youngster. This forever cheerful, hard working boy came to Von's kennel by way of Iditarod musher Rick Larson from Montana. Jack is a real throw back to those wonderful old style "Alaskan Village Dogs" of yesteryear - sturdy, well coated, and just plain hard working! He is a pleasure to run in harness and loves to give great big bear hugs!
Although poor Jack suffered a partially ruptured tendon in his right rear leg and was removed from the team during the expedition, Jack made a full recovery and was returned to service in Fall 2009. Way to go Jack!
Although poor Jack suffered a partially ruptured tendon in his right rear leg and was removed from the team during the expedition, Jack made a full recovery and was returned to service in Fall 2009. Way to go Jack!
Sporting a gorgeous, wavy "collie-like" coat and the bluest eyes you ever saw, this 8 year old 2 time Iditarod finisher is the bouncy, playful brother to little Cherry. With his frecked muzzle and heavy arched brows perched above piercing blue eyes, Birch has all the appearance and personality of an animated Disney-like character. This hard working boy is amazing to watch in harness and playful when the day's work is done! Birch shares the namesake and closely resembles one of the dogs with Norman Vaughan and Paul Siple during the 1928 Richard Byrd expedition to Antarctica.
Brother to Birch and Cherry, this Iditarod Race veteran can be characterized by his serious, "get the job done" personality. More reserved and mature by nature, Willow is a wonderful, and powerful Alaskan Husky raised by musher Rick Larson of Montana who generously "rehomed" him together with his brother and sister so that they could enjoy their later years together in Von's kennel. It is heart-warming to see these three siblings remain together after such long, distinguished racing careers. But even after two Iditarod career finishes, this boy was still looking forward to running in Alaska and had the chance to run in lead after our team departed the village of Ruby on the Yukon River.
Restless, tireless, and powerful. These are three good words to describe this large 8 year old Alaskan Husky with handsome brown eyes. But behind that serious face lurks a silly, goofy personality that is delightfully entertaining. Always on the move, even in his kennel, Boomer is one of the first to greet you with his cheerful "Woooo - woo" and wagging tail. As one of the largest and most powerful dogs on the team, Boomer runs in the demanding wheel position, closest to the sled. I've never seen this dog tired! But he is always the first to flop on his back after a hard days work for a nice long belly rub!
Brother to Boomer, "Patrick Henry" was born on the Fourth of July 2000 and raised by Iditarod musher Laura Daugereau. Sometimes misjudged as a wolf hybred - this all white Alaskan Husky with golden eyes is characterized by a shy wolf-like personality. In harness, he can out perform every dog on the team. Even after nonstop 60 mile runs - Patrick acts like he has only run 60 feet while screeming to get moving again! With a perfectly matched gait to his brother Boomer, these two big boys are the "Turbo Diesel" power units of the team.
2009 Serum Run Sponsors - Terry & Barbara deKruyf - $150.00 Level -
Sponsors - Terry & Barbara deKruyf - $150.00 Level -
2009 Serum Run Sponsors - Charlie & Joyce Davis - $150.00 Level -
Sponsors - Columbia Towing - Seattle, WA - $150.00 level
Sponsor - Kat Harder - $150.00 Level -
Sponsor - Kim Blomsness - $100.00 Level -
Sponsor - Jane Siple DeWitt - $100.00 Level -
Sponsor - Jane Siple DeWitt - $100.00 Level -
Sponsors - Ralph & Barbara Thomberg -
The 2009 Serum Run '25 Expedition Team
Teek - Team Dog
It's Teek to the rescue! By special arrangement with Alaska Airlines Air Cargo, this hard working, "happy-go-lucky" boy arrived in Alaska just 3 days before the start of the expedition to replace Sol-leks. Teek is also one of Von's special Siberian Huskies rescued from the county animal shelter in 1992. Imagine Teek's surprise when he was greeted by all of Von's huskies when he arrived in Alaska! Teek thoroughly enjoyed his expedition experience and was never bothered by the weather - no matter how tough things got. During the last day of the expedition, Teek never stopped working throughout an 11 hour non-stop run even as temperatures plunged to 38 degrees below zero! What a happy boy!
click here
To make a donation to Von's 2009 Serum Run team
To make a donation to Von's 2009 Serum Run team
Darryl Corfman & Family - $100.00 Level -
Sponsor - Kat Harder - $150.00 Level -
Last Update
8/05/2009
8/05/2009
click here
To make a donation to Von's 2009 Serum Run team
To make a donation to Von's 2009 Serum Run team
Sponsors - Ralph & Barbara Thomberg -
Sponsors - Ralph & Barbara Thomberg -
Sponsors - Phyllis & Ron Campbell - $150.00 Level -
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