Rocket was originally from a 66 dog rescue down on the Kenai. It was a desperate situation where 4 or 5 dogs were found frozen in a school bus, and a few more were could not be saved.
Rocket was originally adopted out from that rescue then returned when his owner due to some medical conditions could not keep him, losing everything she had. I had been volunteering at AK SPCA when he was first returned. He had severe hip displasia, he could walk on flat surfaces like a road, but if he took off cross country he couldn't even get 2 blocks before he started limping. So I hunted around and found a veterinarian who eventually replaced his hip. His three month recovery was one of the hardest things we've done. Here was a malamute cross who loved to run, containing him was so difficult when the right adopter was took him home we were happy to see him go.
Regardless, the great care we gave in Rocket resulted in a late night winter call from Catherine White who at the time was the President of the Alaskan Malamute Assistance League(AMAL). Catherine wanted to know if we'd be an affiliate of AMAL and rescue malamutes within the state of Alaska. We naturally said yes. Rocket was the start of Malamute Rescue of Alaska.
While were at the AMCA national specialty in Olympia Washington we heard he had been returned to the Alaska SPCA. We called and said we were happy to take him and that we would be keeping him. he's that great of a dog. Now Rocket and I can grow old together.
