There was a time when we shared our life with just one dog. Chance, a truly loyal friend and companion.

The origins of Being There Kennel. Chance (aka Chauncey Gardiner). My old bud. 15 years old in this shot, shortly before his death.
b. July 11, 1984; d. June 28, 1999. Husky-Collie-Shepherd mix.

Tags:   Fairbanks Alaska dog Chance Husky-Collie-Shepherd mix 1982 GMC Pickup Godzilla Polaroid OneStep film 600 Platinum BeingThere dr.Ozda

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So then we had two.
After using Chance for packing, pulling a pulka and ski-joring, I decided he needed a companion. I had no clue what I was doing, so when I answered the classified add, "free husky-shepherd puppies" and we visited and chose Malik I didn't question her background. The mother looked like a purebred German Shepherd and the owner said the sire was a big red husky that 'lived in the neighborhood.' Later I was pretty sure that 'big red husky' was an Akita.

Anyway, Malik grew to become a big girl, topping out at 104 lbs. (47kg.). She was a little terror as a puppy but grew into a big sweetheart. At least with us she was. She was massively strong, very protective and intimidating to others, and poor Chance had to help raise the little hellion.

"Malik" is a Yup'ik (Eskimo) word meaning "companion" or "thing taken along." Our Malik had many nicknames, Pumpkin, Penny, Pea hen, Mabeline, Sweetheart.... you get the idea.
She was born January 14, 1991 and died when her body wore out on October 11, 2004.

(and now it appears I have launched into a "history of BeingThere Kennel" series, which I will continue as I dig through some boxes of old stuff; thanks for visiting.)

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Fee was a stray. He wandered into our yard as about a 4 month old pup one summer day in 1991. I had always figured someone dumped him because we did everything we could to find his people. But maybe I hoped we wouldn’t find them because when Lenore came home from work that day I greeted her with Fee (although he was unnamed) bundled up in my arms and I said, “look what came today, a little package,” then I paused…. “can we keep him?” From the beginning then he had the nickname “Little Package” and he kept it his entire life. We named him Fee Waybill, after the lead singer of the band “The Tubes.” He could sing, was a total showman, and a real character.

He was a fantastic dog, full of sass and personality. He liked Weasel and he was a pretty good puller. So now we had a very unlikely four-dog team.

On October 12, 2007 at nearly 17 years of age Fee walked away and we never saw him or any trace of him again. Although I looked and looked. I have not suffered from a lack of closure, his departure as much a mystery as his arrival and there are some things I don't need to, or perhaps am not meant to know.

There are a few more pics and words about him in his set.

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Our beloved "Sillbo." Son of Weasel and Feebo.
1993 - 2004.
Polaroid, 600 Platinum film and OneStep camera.

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Biscuit behind.
I've described Coco before, suffice to say a delightful little Puffer-dog.
Polaroid OneStep with 600 Platinum film.

Tags:   Fairbanks Alaska sled dog Alaska Husky Coco Coco-Puff Biscuit dog yard Polaroid Polaroid 600 Platinum film Polaroid OneStep Camera BeingThere dr.Ozda

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