Name: Anika (“Ani” for short)
Breed: Siberian Husky mix
Nicknames: "Anika Honeycup Licky Pup
Pup”, “Anicup Pup”, “The Nose” (I can smell food through almost any
packaging), “Sweetie” and “Woo Woo Baby”
Birth date: I was
adopted from the Orange County Animal Shelter in May 2002. I blew my “puppy
coat” in December 2002, so Mom thinks I was from a 2001 Christmas litter.
Favorite dog to run with: My sister Button, of course! I’ll run with
anyone, but I won’t always pull hard.
Favorite toy: A particular pink plastic PetSmart squeaky ball. We
have 3 “identical” pink balls purchased from the same store, but there’s
only this one particular ball that I really love.
Favorite food: I eat anything and everything considered edible (even
some stuff that’s not considered “edible”). I’m constantly on the hunt for
food (& I’m fast), so Mom has to hide all foods from me.
Favorite pastime: EATING!! Close seconds are making new friends and
licking skin (I’ll lick, faces, hands, arms, feet, legs – whatever skin is
exposed). The Husky in me just loves to talk and “sing” and I have to have
the last word in any conversation. I also love “hiding” in “The Cave” when I
don’t want to be bothered, curling up on Mom's bed, running around the
backyard with Button, and just hanging around with my family (“pack”).
I’m best friends with: My sister (Button), my big brother (Jiko) and
my Mom. I also love my Dad (more so when Mom’s not around), but I really
love him when he’s got food.
Pet-peeves: Not getting in the last word in a conversation. Mom leaving us
for work. Dad teasing me. Not being included in everything happening around
me.
If I could change anything in the world, it would be… To make the
world an all-you-can-eat buffet for dogs with a place for never-ending
muzzle & ear rubs!
I love my parent(s) because… They love me (almost as unconditionally
as I love them)! I know they’d do almost anything to keep me healthy &
happy. Also, Mom gives me the best morning muzzle rubs!
My bio: I am a female Siberian Husky mix who was rescued from
the Orange County Animal Shelter. I “picked” my Mom over everyone else who
walked by my cage. I stayed in the back of the kennel run with my back to
all the passers-by, barely turning my head to look at them, but whenever Mom
stopped by to look, I’d coming running up to the front to be petted. I was
friendly with the other passers-by while she was there, but as soon as I
couldn’t see her anymore, I went back to hiding.
Mom had been looking all over shelters for an all white dog because she had
a 17 year old dog, Cassie, (suffering from hearing & sight losses, strokes &
a thyroid condition) who she figured would be dying soon, but Cassie was
terribly color-biased (she only liked all white dogs). Jiko was about 8
years old & he suffered from separation anxiety, so Mom was looking for an
all white dog who could get along with Cassie & keep Jiko company once
Cassie passed away. Fate had it that Mom was the only person to put her name
on the list for me & since I was on the “Available Today” list, she paid the
fees and was told she could pick me up the following Monday.
Mom got home & then it hit her that I was a Siberian Husky mix, so she
immediately set to researching activities for me. Even though I was not very
social while I was at the shelter, it turns out I was just being very
selective about who I wanted to take me home. As soon as I left the shelter
with Mom, I was a whole new dog – friendly to all humans & dogs. Once I
settled in (yes, I was the perfect addition Mom was looking for), Mom
settled on running sidewalks with a 4-wheeled cart. She did lots of
research, ordered some training books, a cart, & all the required equipment
from the internet. 4 months of training after leaving the shelter, I was
“sidewalk surfing” with the cart, Jiko & Mom. We had lots of fun & provided
entertainment for all the neighbors.
Mom realized there was something lacking & hit the internet researching
mushing classes. She settled on a week-long program offered in Alaska by a
10-time Iditarod finisher Lynda Plettner after watching the PBS “Nature”
show featuring Lynda Plettner. Jiko stayed home as Mom & I flew out to
Alaska for our mushing “boot camp.” I was a quick learner (so was Mom) and
we had lots of fun, too. I got to run with “Panda” (a famous Iditarod dog),
Ellen & Button on our training runs. Training on unfamiliar trails with
those seasoned sled dogs in front of an ATV was different, but it didn’t
phase me any. Button & I hit it off right away and she ended up becoming a
part of our family in short order (read Button’s bio on this website).
Button & I (& Mom) made front page news in the Tulare Advance Register’s
Local section when we went to Tulare’s Roosevelt Elementary School in 2005
to talk to some 5th grade students about dogsledding, the Iditarod, and
working towards a goal to fulfill one’s dreams. It started out as a request
for a 40 minute presentation to the reading group who was reading the Gary
Paulsen book Dog Song, then a 30-minute presentation was added to address
another group of students. We even went outside to a grassy area to
demonstrate the most commonly used verbal commands. Not only did we impress
the reporter, photographer, students, teachers & school principal – we
impressed Mom by being so focused & responding each command perfectly!). We
were such a hit that we were invited to come back after the lunch break to
talk to the homeroom class until the end of the school day (over 2 more
hours)!
Like all living creatures, I have good moments & moments when I’m not so
good. For the most part, I’m good – although Mom keeps saying I could be
better (she blames herself for not spending more training time with me). I
am the alpha dog among the 3 four-leggers and every once in a while I try to
alpha Mom, but she won’t have any of it and she’s quick to remind me she’s
really the boss (although I still manage to get the last word). A Woooo
Woooo WOOOOOO!!! |
