I’ve invited three new reporters to write articles for my blog — their names are Gypsy, Sanka, and Libby. Each has written to you so you can learn all about them. We have lots of great plans and story ideas, so check this site often! We want this project to help you learn everything you want to learn about Iditarod and Alaska.

Gypsum (aka Gypsy)

I’m Gypsum, but everyone calls me Gypsy. I love to wander. My humans call me a master escape artist. I’m not sure what that means but I know I love to see what’s on the other side of my kennel, or the run, or the door … I just love to explore. I learn so much by exploring.
I live in New Hampshire and I’m 8 months old. My birthday is January 25th. I have 5 brothers and 2 sisters. My brother Slate and I still live at the same house we were born in with 7 other Siberians including my mom and grandma. We are going to be a part of a recreational sled dog team that may do a few mid distance races in the future. I can’t wait until I can join the team. You see, several of my relatives, including my daddy, Skor, have participated in and/or completed the Iditarod with Karen Ramsteads team. I love hearing the stories of their adventures. Running out in the open, exploring new places, sure sounds like my kind of fun.

First I need to know what it takes to be a lead dog because that’s my goal. I want to lead my team. My humans tell me that I have to listen, and practice a lot. I have also decided to talk to as many other lead dogs as I can and find out what they do and what kind of training they have had. I also want to know what their humans need to know so I can teach mine things like when I should get a treat! Of course to talk to these lead dogs, I might just have to get on the other side of my kennel unless of course, I can talk my humans into more computer time. Stay tuned to see what adventures await me.

Sanka Wusha

My name is Sanka Wusha. Sanka comes from the character in “Cool Runnings,” the movie about the Jamaican Bobsled Team and Wusha is Ethiopian for dog. My birthday is in the middle of May so I’m about 5 months old right now. I was born at Rayme Redington’s kennel just a few miles away from Iditarod Headquarters. Anyone who hangs out at headquarters, knows Rayme; he’s the musher who brings his dogs to HQ everyday to give tourists cart rides. I came to headquarters many times when I was just a little puppy. Those tourists, young and old alike just love to hold and cuddle the puppies and it helps us get used to being around people. Zuma and I almost met at Iditarod Headquarters, but I was taking a puppy nap and missed the introductions.

The Redington name is pretty special in Iditarod history. Ramey’s Dad, Joe Redington, Sr. founded Iditarod along with Dorothy Page way back in 1973. Joe ran Iditarod many times – even when he was 80 years old. Ramey has run Iditarod many times and now his son; Ray Jr. continues to raise dogs and runs the last great race. Seems like raising sled dogs and racing is a way of life for the Redington family.

When I was just 8 weeks old, I moved from Knik, Alaska to Eau Claire, Wisconsin. That’s right, from Alaska to Wisconsin! My new family came to Ramey’s kennel looking for a good female Alaskan Husky to join their dog team. They picked me – I was so excited! It was a great adventure getting from Knik to Eau Claire. I flew to my new home with my new musher right IN the plane. Yup, they put me in this little soft-sided kennel and I fit right under the seat like carry on luggage. Before getting on the plane, I wondered how I was going to get through security. I saw everybody taking their shoes off and putting their belongings into bins and running them through the X-ray machine. Thankfully, my musher carried me so I didn’t have to go through that scary machine all by myself. It was a nice ride on the plane. I got to sit on lots of laps, everybody made a big fuss over little ole’ me and the flight attendants really loved me. I had plenty of food and water although I was a little too nervous to eat very much.

Zuma and I have something very special in common. Zuma was born in Wisconsin and moved to Alaska; I was born in Alaska and moved to Wisconsin. We sort of “traded” homes! When I grow up, I’d like to be as smart as Zuma. Not only do I hope to be a smart dog, I’d like to be a lead dog! I have so much to learn and experience. Let’s all be friends and trade stories.

Libby Littles

I know I’m not the youngest member of this K-9 reporting team, but I am the smallest. I am an Alaskan Klee Kai, which is a miniature sled dog. Some humans think that I look a lot like a Siberian. My breed began in Alaska and you can find lots of information about my breed by doing a search on the Internet.

I was born in Texas three years ago and now I live in South Dakota. I love to travel and learn about lots of different things. When I was young, I wanted to be a ‘show dog’. I tried hard to learn the skills, but after many months of practice, I decided that line of work wasn’t for me. I would much rather spin around in circles when I walk then walk a straight line. I do like everyone to look at me and admire me. I am very special and I like to dress up fancy sporting hats, coats, and sparkly jewelry.

I decided with my love of travel and my love of telling everyone about what I see and do, I should go to K-9 journalism school. I met the other team members on a video conference and had so much fun brainstorming about project ideas that I decided I wanted to be a member of this journalistic team. My dream of being a K-9 fashion model will have to wait until I see how this career works out.

My job on this team will be to tell you about ‘little’ things that are interesting. That doesn’t mean everything I write about is little — like me! It could be that I write about a big thing, but it is a detail that you will find interesting. You can call me the little reporter who is in chare of big details!

I am glad you’ll be reading Zuma’s Paw Prints. I look forward to you writing letters and articles as I work with Zuma and the other team members. Be sure to tell Zuma how cute and smart I am! Oh, tell her my little details are great, too! You’ll be hearing from me soon. I’m going to take a couple days vacation now, maybe fly down and watch a sled dog team that is practicing on the beaches in Jamaica. I’ve got my beachwear and sunglasses all packed. Now where did I put my camera?