Taz
Powell’s Tazmalamute Devil was my first Alaskan Malamute. Because we didn't know better at the time, he was purchased from a puppy mill. Taz was sold with all the usual health guarantees, so when he was diagnosed with Canine Hip Dysplasia, I called the breeder. Of course no one had ever had a problem with one of her puppies before, mostly because she failed to educate her buyers about the disease. We were faced with the hard decision of expensive surgery to try to correct the problem, or knowing that Taz would have a shortened life due to the pain he would endure as he got older, but we also knew that if there was anyway we could improve the quality of his life, we would go with that decision. So we opted for the surgery.
The surguical procedure and recovery was very long and painful, both for Taz and for myself. But seeing him cruise around play with Neeko in the yard made it all worth it. Other than a little arthritis in his left hip, it's hard to tell there was ever a problem!
Taz was never made for the dog show life, and every time we took him traveling with us, he was sure to let us know his displeasure. When he was 4 years old, we decided to look for a new home for him. The Goddard family had 3 boys, all of whom happened to have the same birthday. One day in July, we went to their birthday party in the park, and they took him home to live with them. Taz is now 7 years old and going a little grey in the face, but he is still as mischievous as ever. When I visit him, the Goddards are sure to tell me all about the naughty things that “my dog” has been up to!
Canine Hip Dysplasia is a very painful disease, and sometimes even fatal. Please, before you make your decision on bringing home a purebred dog, whether it be an Alaskan Malamute or any other large breed, make certain that the dog's parents have had their health clearances done, and that the breeder can provide you with copies of the certifications. Read this article, and visit the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals website for more information.
Neeko
Rocky-Wak Heartbreak ‘O’ PowerPaw was my Mother’s Day gift. I fell in love with her the morning she was born. Neeko was shown for a short time, but didn’t care for the show ring. When Taz’s new family, the Goddards, approached us because they had caught the “no one can have just one” bug, we decided Neeko and her loving disposition would be the perfect companion for Taz. One day in June she went home with them as a Father’s Day present!
Neeko and Taz
Lucky
Lucky, as my brothers named him, is the very most recent addition to our lives. He wandered in on Christmas Eve, 2003. I was at the grocery store and happened to come across a Malamute running down the aisles! Lucky was dirty, skinny beyond belief, and he was dragging a tow chain that was tied around his neck. Despite all of this, he was still happy and grateful that someone was paying him some kind attention. So, sucker that I am for these big guys, I loaded him up in the car, took him home and gave him a good dinner and some toys to chew on. Lucky has a happy-go-lucky outlook on life, and is most appreciative of a kind hand. His best friend just happens to be a Shetland Pony!
Sue and Blue
As if the Malamutes weren't enough, my family has two "non-northern" pack members: Sue, a red Heeler and Blue, a blue Heeler (bet ya couldn’t guess that one from his name!). Since Malamutes have no skills as guard dogs, we figured we’d get a couple of barkers.
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