THE
FUZZBUTT
NETWORK
Sniffing out the Eugene-Springfield Husky/Malamute Meet-up
A
t a recent Eugene Husky/Malamute
Meet-Up at Amazon dog park, 50 or
more huskies and malamutes play like
there’s no tomorrow — running in giant
circles, climbing on tables, splashing in
the kiddie pool and pausing for plenty of
pats from the charmed crowd.
The meet-up does more than hold
regular gatherings. “Our group promotes
and facilitates adoptions,” co-founder
Helen Lindell says. “We scour Craigslist
and pet pages for fuzzies needing new homes.”
Lindell and her husband, Sandy, have a pack of five
huskies — Sabaka, Red, Koshka, Spitfire and Pepper —
who range in age from 4 to 15. All are rescues.
The Lindells and other group members help adoptees
make successful transitions into existing families by
offering training, support and even security checks.
“Huskies and malamutes are notorious escape artists,”
Lindell says. “We offer tips on containment — be it
wooden or metal fences.”
Anyone who’s ever owned a husky can tell you stories
about the breed’s boundless energy and seemingly
supernatural abilities to scale fences, destroy gardens, eat
sofas, etc.
“Our group has many experienced people who will
give advice on food, diets, vet care, training and behavior-
correction tips,” Lindell says.
At the meet-up, dozens of huge dogs play happily and
without incident.
Their people seem equally pleased to be a part of this
supportive social network. It takes a village to raise a
husky.
TWO DOGS PLAY AT THE MEET-UP.
BY RACHAEL CARNES
“Some members will do limited day care and, in some
instances, longer-term care,” Lindell says.
Jennifer and Travis Jones introduce Odin, a gorgeous
2-year-old rust-colored Siberian.
“His original family was overwhelmed,” Travis says.
“He spent forever outside — with no socialization.”
Jones fears that, as a pup, Odin was also likely abused.
“When we got him, he was terrified of men with hats and
beards,” he says.
But you wouldn’t know it now, as Odin merrily cavorts
with his pack, including fellow husky Arkyn and their
“big sister,” a senior hound dog named Sydney.
“They taught her how to howl,” Jennifer Jones says.
The group keeps an eye out for one another’s dogs,
providing a safe place for “found” dogs and sharing “lost
dog” postings over social media.
“We try very hard to keep them out of the shelters,”
Lindell says. “I personally found an older malamute
running down the center of Lorane Highway. I got him
to jump into my car, but I was on my way to work. So I
put out a call and a member stepped up to pup-sit till his
family could be found.”
One malamute, who seems too besotted with his many
human admirers and canine pals to run anywhere, is the
160-pound Wolfgang.
“My son has autism. And when my previous dog died,
I wanted to get a new dog for him,” says Wolfgang’s
owner, Bob Whitlatch. “I found Wolfie on Craigslist. He
was eight months and 80 pounds, living in a one-bedroom
upstairs apartment. The previous owner had been getting
landlord complaints.”
Wolfgang has clearly landed with his nose in the butter.
But not every fuzzer is so lucky, and the buying and
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selling of dogs — especially adorable and striking huskies
and mals — can be a practice where fraud proliferates.
Though many “rehome” listings are legitimate and
often result from changes in economic, medical or living
situations, sometimes folks will use puppy cuteness to make
a quick buck, Lindell says. Fraudulent ads may describe
the lineage of a pedigreed dog that can’t be substantiated,
or claim that an animal has received its full array of shots
when it isn’t old enough to be fully vaccinated.
“Never put money up front unless it’s a local person,”
Lindell says. “And always ask to see parents. Google the
picture of the pup to see if the picture just wasn’t pulled
off of Google images. If still in doubt take a screen shot
of the ad you are interested in and post it on our website.
Members are more than willing to help.”
Besides teaching members how to spot scams, the
group continually encourages adoption, spaying and
neutering.
“Our group has blown up into an international club
with 1,600 members,” Lindell says. “People come to
experience the husky and malamute life, if they can’t have
one of their own.”
One person rich in huskies is Addi Artemenko, age 9. Her
dogs — Po, Jasper, Rhino and an older mixed-breed dog,
Diesel — are all rescues. Addi’s pack stays near its young
mistress, who beams as she describes her role in their lives,
which includes helping with their feeding and grooming.
“And I walk them,” Addi says proudly. “One at a time.”
The group meets at a different dog park at least once
per month, more often in the summer. The easiest way
to connect is to join the Facebook group — Eugene
Springfield Husky-Malamute Meet-Up — and watch the
page for play dates and other events. ■
Gentle,
compassionate,
professional
care in the
privacy of
your own
home.
RebeccaLaMarcheDVM
eugeneweekly.com • July 27, 2017
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