Meet my friend, Roxy!

Then, I’ve got a great idea for you so be sure to read my letter that follows Roxy’s letter.

Lots of Tail Wags,

Zuma

Dear Zuma,

Is that really you?

My friend Willow found your picture on the internet and showed it to me. “Roxy,” she said, “Look at this website called Zuma’s Paw Prints! Wasn’t Zuma your favorite litter-mate?” Wow! I always wondered what happened to you after my family took me home that day. I’ll never forget that day. I’ll never forget you! You don’t know that I am called Roxy now. That was what Willow named me. As you’ve probably guessed, Willow is the girl who begged her dad to take me home with them.  We have become best friends, like you and I were when we were puppies. Remember we guessed that the lady in the red jacket was about to have a baby?  Well, we were right, she did. They named the baby Zanna.  At first, we didn’t get along so well, but now we do. That’s part of a long story, and someone actually wrote a book about it! About me, Zuma! And about Willow. The book is Diamond Willow. The author is Helen Frost. You can find it in the children’s or Young Adult section of most libraries and bookstores.  I noticed that Helen Frost is your Facebook friend, so you may know her better than I do.  I only know about her from her website: http://www.helenfrost.net/index.php She has written other books too. Willow has read them all, but Diamond Willow is the only one she read out loud to me.

Willow and I are not on Facebook. We’re not in the Iditarod either. But we love to explore the trails around our house together, and we both love to go fast. That sometimes causes a few problems, as you’ll find out when you read the book. (After you read it, write back and tell me how you like it.)

Maybe we’ll see each other out on a trail someday. That would be so great! I could introduce you to Willow. You would love each other.
Your friend and sister,

Roxy

Hello Roxy,

It is great to hear from you! I just finished the book. It was AWESOME! It made me laugh and it made me cry, too! The book made me think about what it takes to have courage and how important it is to stand up for what you believe is the right thing to do.  I enjoyed the book so much, I’m going to read it again.

I’ve got a challenge for the boys and girls who read Zuma’s Paw Prints.

Boys and Girls, put this book on your list to read. Then, leave comments about the book. I’d enjoy talking to you about your favorite part of the book and your idea on what message the author, Helen Frost, has for readers.  Leave you comments and if we are lucky, Roxy or maybe even the author, Helen Frost, might stop by to respond to your thoughts.

Have a great summer, Boys and Girls…

Read, read, read lots of books!

Lots of Tail Wags,

Zuma

This year’s race was very exciting.

A favorite part of the race for me was meeting new friends. I’d like to introduce you to my friend, Happy! Happy is a great fur-friend who ran all the way from Anchorage to Nome. I can’t wait for you to read about my new friend!

Lots of Tail Wags,
Zuma

Hi, I’m Happy!… I’m always Happy!… That’s why they call me Happy!

I’m finally pawing through all my email and I found your message!…

I’d be honored to be in Paw Prints!

I also don’t know what kind of story your readers would like! There are lots of links to stories about me.

The original Happy Story is at this site.  I hope you like it!

http://spkenneldoglog.blogspot.com/2009/03/iditarod-2009-happy-story.html

My website — with all the latest — is at:

http://www.HappyTheSledDog.com

I hope the boys and girls who read your site stop by and visit me at my site soon!

Thanks for your message! Be happy!

Love, Happy

My name is Ross, and I am a different kind of working dog.  I am in training to be a Canine Companions for Independence (www.cci.org) assistance dog. CCI provides dogs free of charge to people with disabilities other than blindness. I am 9 1/2 months old and go to CCI College (aka Advanced Training) in August.  Then we’ll have to see if I have The Right Stuff to be a CCI Graduate Dog!

I don’t think it’s as difficult as being a sled dog, or maybe it’s just difficult in a different way. At any rate, I’m sure I don’t have The Right Stuff to be a sled dog because I hate being cold. My puppy raiser even takes a small rug when we go to the movies because I hate lying on the cold floor and have a hard time settling down for a nap. She tells me I’m a little high maintenance and will have to get over that before I go to College.  Huh.

In the meantime I go to work with my puppy raiser at a TV station every day. I have my own DogBlog on our website (www.thedenverchannel.com/family).  Zuma, I would love to interview you for my DogBlog, if you’re not too busy. If that works out, I’ll send you some questions to answer.

Thanks!
Chow for now!

Ross
CCI ADIT

Hello Ross!  I’m so happy to meet you!  Send me your picture and I’ll post it here!  It will be fun to be interviewed by you!

Lots of Tail Wags,

Zuma

Lots of Tail Wags,

Zuma

Zuma, I am attaching photos of my Siberian Husky puppy, Luna. She looks very similar to you and her birthday is in August as well, August 23. She is just seven months old, but I think being a reporter might be in her future. She is very bright (or so say all the obedience school teachers) and very friendly. She also loves to run; but since we live in Atlanta and she was born in Pine Mountain, Georgia, it might be a little tough for her to get to the Iditarod.   Ironically, I went to journalism school – the University of Missouri School of Journalism in Columbia, MO. Do you have any advice for her/me on how to help her learn the tools of the trade?   And feel free to share our story with the kids who read your posts. Luna loves kids and would be very happy to know they are learning something from her.
Sarrah

“Imagination is more important than knowledge…”  - Albert Einstein

[[Show as slideshow]] ]]> http://iditarodblogs.com/zuma/2009/03/17/meet-luna/feed/ 8 http://iditarodblogs.com/zuma/2009/03/14/nigel-and-nancy-a-happy-reunion/ http://iditarodblogs.com/zuma/2009/03/14/nigel-and-nancy-a-happy-reunion/#comments Sat, 14 Mar 2009 17:57:50 +0000 Zuma http://iditarodblogs.com/zuma/2009/03/14/nigel-and-nancy-a-happy-reunion/

After spending a couple nights in the Alaska wilderness, Nigel, a sled dog from Nancy Yoshida’s team was reunited with Nancy.  After a series of bad luck incidents and crashes on the Happy River Steps, and finally reaching Rainy Pass on a broken sled without Nigel, Nancy scratched from the race.  A search for Nigel continued for the days that followed.  On Friday morning, Nigel’s tracks were spotted by a pilot and there were soon visual sightings of Nigel.   Nancy then was flown out to the area near Talvista Lodge near Skwentna, Alaska.  When the plane that Nancy was flying in landed, Nigel was safe in ‘protective custody’ with good folks who live in the area and waiting for Nancy.  Nigel was in the best of health, energetic, and eager to greet Nancy with doggies kisses.

Nigel told me in a private interview that he’d gotten a bit spooked during the crashes and when he couldn’t find Nancy and the rest of his team mates, he set out in search of them.  He was glad to meet up with Nancy but he was very surprised to find her getting out of a plan instead of being with the broken dog sled.   He’d asked the people and the animals he met during his time away from the team to keep a look out for his wonderful human and his running mates.  Nigel said that although he felt bad about not being with his team,  he’d had an incredible adventure while on his own.  He is thinking of talking to Nancy about writing a book to tell their story.  “Nigel’s Choice sounds like a good title,” he said.

Boys and Girls, use your imagination  and write about Nigel’s adventure.  Leave comments to share what you think Nigel saw while having his own Iditarod adventure.  What did Nigel think about?  What animals did he meet up with?  What did he dream about while he rested?  Write short stories, create poems, and draw pictures.  You can send me your work samples by leaving blog comments or by  having your teacher email them to me in an attachment.  What fun it will be to show your ideas to Nigel!  We’ll share some of the ideas on the website, too.

Lots of Tail Wags,

Zuma

Watch this slide show!