USA : Wednesday, 5 January 2011 (Local Time)
Dashing through the snow behind a speeding dog sled is not everyone’s idea of a good time. But for Meg Mizzoni, animal control officer for Westford and Tyngsboro, it’s a sport she passionately loves.
Mizzoni has been a competitive dog sled racer since 1998 when she agreed to help train a friend’s sled dogs and then got hooked on the sport herself. She ran and won her first race in 1998 in Freetown. During that run her dogs drew a wheeled rig instead of a sled.
Dog sled racers regularly train their dogs for speed by using wheeled rigs, especially in fall before the winter season. Sometimes the dogs run with a motorized all-terrain vehicle too.
“The dogs love it,” said Mizzoni. “You can’t force them to run. It’s what they want to do.”
Mizzoni races eight- and 10-dog teams. The dogs she races all belong to the Alaskan husky breed which includes several varieties – husky hounds, husky pointers, and husky hound pointers.
“They’re all a mix of both husky and hound dog,” noted Mizzoni.
Caring for sled dogs calls for a lot of dedication. It’s a daily job, 365 days a year.
“Sled dog racing requires a lot of commitment,” said Mizzoni. “It’s great for kids because they get to work with animals and have to be disciplined about it.”
The dogs are fed a special diet high in protein and fat to develop stamina for their endurance sport. They all have their own unique personalities and traits.
“Some dogs are natural leaders who are meant to run at the front of the pack,” said Mizzoni. “And some dogs are better team players.”
There is a lot of equipment needed for the sport besides the sled and training rigs. The sled requires a harness for each dog, a gang line, and a snow hook, which acts as an anchor to slow down and stop the dogs. Racers also have to carry a sled bag which is used to carry a dog if any of them get injured. Pulling a sled through deep snow can strain a dog’s shoulders or cause leg injuries.
Each race has a chief judge and race marshall overseeing the event. They inspect the dogs before the race to ensure all the participants appear healthy and up to the task. Any dog that appears in any way injured or ill is disqualified.
Mizzoni is no stranger to injuries herself. Along with the bumps and bruises one would expect to receive while competing in such a vigorous sport, Mizzoni has suffered a separated shoulder and a leg laceration that had to be stitched.
The dogs undergo intense training beyond speed and endurance. They have to learn to run past anything and not let any distractions divert their attention.
“The last thing you want is for a squirrel to run across your path and have the dogs go after it, running you right into a tree,” said Mizzoni.
Mizzoni’s love for animals began at a young age. She started a dog walking business as a teenager and she also worked at horse stables. It was her hands-on experience that led her to a career as an animal control officer nine years ago. She has also worked as a veterinary tech at Nashoba Valley Veterinary Hospital for the past six years.
Dog sled racing is not for everyone. “You have to be able to handle the cold and being outdoors a lot,” said Mizzoni.
Officer Mizzoni is not the only dog sled racer in the family. Her daughter Jackie, a senior at the University of New Haven in Connecticut, also competes. When asked who is the better racer, Meg Mizzoni hemmed a bit, then diplomatically noted that as the older of the two, she does have more experience.
Story and Foto from : www.wickedlocal.com (reported by Kay Fitzpatrick)
