Mike Dillingham - Alaska Dogs and Iditarod Mushers - The Adventures of Balto, Back of the Pack, Honor Bound, Rivers

Lakota told me that there was a big wolf in the kennel and Sandy was down. Christmas was in her house with her puppies. Mike was kneeling by Sandy.

I heard Mike talk very softly to her. He called Doctor Jim on the cell phone. After Randy took us off the gang line, we gathered around Sandy. Doc told me that Sandy was in bad shape, with many bite wounds. Nitro said the wolf was dead, but it looked like he had been in one nasty fight.

“Sandy?” Brownie asked.

“Yes, Aunt Sandy.” Christmas was crying. “That wolf dug a hole near the back corner and crawled in while we were napping,” Christmas said. “Aunt Sandy heard it, and I was ready to fight it but she told me to stay in my doghouse and protect my babies. I watched from the door. It was a real bad fight.” Christmas added, “No matter how nasty the wolf got, Aunt Sandy would not let him near my doghouse. I wanted to come out to help her, but she kept telling me to stay in my doghouse.”

Christmas told us that they were still fighting when Mike shot the wolf.

“What can I do, Mister Mike?” It was Randy.

Mike had a hard time answering. “Let’s get her into the warming shed. I do not think she is going to make it.” His voice was trembling when he said, “I don’t want her dying here in the dirt. She is my housedog. I want to get her into a shed.”

Lakota told me that Mike gently picked Sandy up and carried her to the warming shed. He placed her on blanket and let her rest on the straw.

“Gang.” It was Sandy. “Are the babies safe?”

Nitro answered, “Yes, the wolf is dead.” He added, “Mike shot it. You did good, Sandy.” You could tell that Nitro was choking back his tears.

I heard Christmas burst into the shed, crying. “Aunt Sandy…”

“Hush child,” Sandy said very lovingly. “It is time for me to go. Please listen very carefully to me. While Mike has a bond with the guys and especially Rivers, you child, will have a special bond with him as I do.” Sandy continued. “As these guys take care of him as their musher, you must take care of Mike as your human. You promise me to do that?” Sandy asked.

“Yes Aunt Sandy, I will take great care of Mike,” Christmas answered, with tears in her voice.

Then Sandy said, “Nitro, we never got to play the tugging game. I wonder who would have won if we did.”

Nitro answered, “You would have. I am no match for a class act like you.” I thought I heard Sandy chuckle.

“Rivers.”

“Yes Sandy,” I answered.

“I am glad you came into Mike’s life. You are very good for him. So are the rest of you,” she said weakly to the rest of the team

Lakota told me that Sandy raised her head up a bit, looked right into Mike’s face, and said, “You saved me many years ago. You took good care of me and gave me plenty of love and affection. You were a good companion to me. You made me happy. Thank you.” She nuzzled Mike’s hand, laid her head in his lap, and then she was gone.

I heard Mike sob “Oh, Sandy Girl, my Sandy Girl.” Doc said Mike just sat next to her stoking her head, crying softly.

I heard the truck pull into the driveway, then footsteps running to the shed. Lakota told me that Doctor Jim and Sunny came into the warming shed.

“I am so sorry Mike, I could not get here any faster.” Doctor Jim said.

“I know,” Mike said. “She was badly hurt when I got here. I do not think we could have saved her. She must have tangled with that wolf out there. My Sandy Girl got between the wolf and Christmas’ puppies. Looks like Sandy put up quite a fight.”

Mike continued, “Doctor Jim, would you mind taking care of that wolf out there and driving Randy home? I have some things I need to do right now.”

Doctor Jim answered. “Sure, Mike. Come on Randy,” Doctor Jim said, “let’s leave Mike alone.”

I heard Nitro run out to the yard and start to bark and growl. I ran out with the team and Lakota told me Nitro was barking and tearing into the dead wolf. “If I had only been here.” Nitro repeated, “If I had only been here.” He was beyond anger. He was in full rage and none of us was going to stop him. I heard Doctor Jim say “Nitro, stop.” However, Nitro just ignored him and continued to tear into the wolf. Nitro was beyond listening.

“Uncle Nitro, please stop.” It was Christmas. Brownie told me that Nitro looked at her and the fury was still raging his eyes.

“Go away Little One,” Nitro demanded.

“No Uncle Nitro, not unless you come with me.” Christmas replied.

“Go away, I said,” Nitro repeated in a very menacing tone. Christmas walked up to Nitro and stood between him and the wolf. She stood face to face with him. Doc said, this meant that Nitro was head and shoulders over her.

“What you are doing, Uncle Nitro, scares me,” she said. “The wolf is dead. It was not meant for you to be here to fight it. It was meant for Sandy to protect me and my babies.”

Lakota told me that Nitro just looked at Christmas and moved around her to get to the wolf. Christmas again moved into Nitro’s way. Again nose-to-nose, Christmas said, “Uncle Nitro, what you are doing is not right.” She then asked Nitro to stop and walk with her.

This was getting very tense. We all wondered what Nitro would do. “Nitro, sit. Team, sit.” It was Mike. Lakota told me that he was in the doorway of the warming shed looking at us. We all sat, including Nitro. I heard Mike walk out of the shed and Lakota told me that he was walking towards Nitro.

Lakota told me that when Mike was near Nitro, he knelt by Nitro and hugged him. Lakota told me that Christmas walked back to where we were. I heard her sit next to me. She was trembling.

As Mike hugged Nitro, Lakota told me that Doctor Jim and Randy removed the wolf and carried it to Doctor Jim’s vehicle and left. Mike started to talk very softly to Nitro. I do not think anyone could hear him except me, since my hearing is so keen.

“Nitro,” Mike said very gently, “I know if you had been here that wolf would have never dug into the kennel.” Lakota told me Mike gently rubbed Nitro’s head and ears. “I know you would sacrifice your life to protect anyone on this team. You are a true hero and champion, but venting your anger on that dead wolf proves and achieves nothing.” Lakota told me that Mike sat down next to Nitro, who rested his head in Mike’s lap. “Nitro, do not blame yourself for this,” Mike said. “That is the same wolf that attacked Sunny when she was caught in that snare. Remember? I could have shot it then, but I did not. I allowed it to live.” Mike continued very sullenly, “If I had shot it, it would not have dug into the kennel and…” His voice trailed off. Lakota told me that Nitro lifted his head and started to lick Mike’s face as Mike put a big hug on him.

Lakota told me that they sat there for a few minutes. Then Mike got up and went to his workshop and we heard him start to build something. Nitro came back over to where we were and said to Christmas, “You are a very brave and wise dog, Little One. I am very sorry for scaring you.” He paused, and then added, “I am also very proud of you.”

Christmas answered, “That’s okay Uncle Nitro, I understand.” Then she said, “I have to go and feed my babies. You okay, Uncle Nitro?” She asked.

“Yes, now I am,” Nitro replied. “Thank you.”

As Christmas walked to her doghouse to feed her pups, Ugly asked Nitro what Mike had said that made him calm down. He told us.

“You mean that was the same wolf that hurt Sunny?” Brownie asked.

Nitro answered, “From what Mike said, it was.”

“Gee.” It was Ugly. “I bet Mike feels terrible. If he had shot the wolf, then Sandy would still be alive.”

“Yes,” I said. “Mike probably does feel terrible. Mike made the decision to spare the wolf’s life. I wonder if Mike still believes that was a good decision.”