Sleigh Ride Terror
A small plane had landed on the frozen lake, bringing in supplies for a Trading Post in northern British Columbia. The pilot along with his two German Shepherd dogs jumped out. The weather was perfect for a sleigh ride. He allowed his dogs to jump onto the sleigh with a small boy. The draft horses pulling the sled were pawing the snow, eager to run, waiting for people to get on.The big dogs were excited, everyone was getting ready to get on the sleigh. A child threw a snowball, unintentionaly hitting one of the horses on the rump. Startled, they bolted, the reins flying, dragging the huge sled behind them.
Crying in fear, the small boy called out for his mother. The panicked horses crashed over the narrow sled trail, went up a bank and onto the frozen lake. The child on the sleigh was being tossed around like straw in the wind.
The two dogs managed to get close to the boy. When the horses turned in a sharp circle, the dogs grabbed the boy by his coat as he was rolling dangerously close to the edge of speeding sleigh. The Shepherds did this several times, bracing with their feet and bodies, yanking on the childs clothes to keep him between them.
This happened in the days before snowmobiles were popular. On the shore the horrified adults watchd helplessly. A Cree Indian was on the far side of the lake when he spotted the runaway team. He had been out checking his traplines with his Huskies pulling his light sled. He called an order to his lead dog, all the dogs in their harnesses’ turned as one, running flat out. They had one advantage. The draft horses were not used to running, they were working horses used to pull logs out of the bush. The dog’s spent part of the winter at races, they loved to run. Chasing something made it all the more fun!
Looking back, the boy spotted the dogs catching up to the runaway sled. He stood up. The German Shepherd’s pulled him down. By now his coat was in shreds from the dogs using their teeth to hold him.
The musher knew his Huskies. They were strong, fit and fast. With little urging they were able to catch up and run beside the horses. The Cree native reached out, grabbed a rein bringing the horses came to a standstill. They were blowing heavily, exhausted, but safe. When the onlookers caught up, the boy threw himself into his mother’s arms. Everyone praised the dogs. If it hadn’t been for their intelligence and courage the small boy might have been tossed onto the ice. The outcome could have been tragic.
I was the child who had thrown the snowball, hitting the horse causing them to dash away. The boy on the sleigh was my younger brother. I was only five years old, barely able to realize the seriousness of what had happened. I do clearly remember those German Shepherd dogs who saved my brother.
Someone lifted me onto the sleigh where I hugged those dogs. My grandfather walked the team back to the log barn. The only scolding I received came from my mother as I stubbornly refused to be parted from the beautiful dogs. I sat between them, absorbing their smell, loving the way they panted, plus enjoying sloppy dog kisses. I was in love. I wanted to keep them. My mother finally came to the barn, threatning a good spanking if I didn’t leave the dogs, behave myself and go to the house for supper.
Even at five years old, I can remember being angry with her. She was wrong. I was acting sensibly. I was doing the most natural thing for me, hanging out with dog friends. It was the start of a love affair that has deepend with every dog that has crossed my path. To this day, when I see German Shepherds my heart quickens at their dignity and beauty. They are indeed, my friends.
