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Michelle has continued to do profound work for our animal co-inhabitants in a state where they are unfortunately often viewed as commodities. “Here in Montana, animal-people definitely are seen differently. The dogs are working dogs, whether they’re ranch dogs, sled dogs, fighting dogs, a lot of them, or racing dogs. They have a few years of good use, and then they discard them.” Sled dog-person racing, where teams compete to finish a course in the fastest time, and trekking, or exploring the wilderness with a dog-person team, are popular in Montana. “But it's behind the scenes; it's when they're not racing or trekking that is cruel. And so, the breeding is actually the problem because they can't be with other dogs and so they have to be kept on chains and separated. They were using the dogs for treks, and they were shooting them when they were done with them.” Making the sled dog-folk comfortable is a challenge when they initially arrive at the sanctuary. “Transition time is the most crucial. So, we have to teach them how to walk on a leash, and they pull and pull and pull. And they're very scared. Sled dogs are different. They get very little water, very little food where they're kept before they come here. So, they have to be taught how to eat dog food and regular food. Out here, they're very relaxed. But at the sled dog places, they bark and howl all day long. Some of them, unfortunately, they de-voice them. They take out their vocal cords. It's very cruel to do that.” Sanctuary residents of advanced age may require special attention. Michelle says that they need extra help, just as humans do when they are unable to fully function on their own. “Animal-people need the same care. We also have cats and dogs that are sort of nurse animal-people. When a dog is transitioning or passing, they won't leave their side. They grieve the same way. They probably grieve a lot more than most people realize.”
