HOWLING LESSON SLED DOGS TEACH RESPECT, TEAMWORK.Byline: Amy Raisin raisin, in botany and cooking raisin, dried fruit of certain varieties of grapevines bearing grapes with a high content of sugar and solid flesh. Although the fruit is sometimes artificially dehydrated, it is usually sun-dried. Staff Writer SAUGUS - As hundreds of little kids screamed with delight inside, three sled dogs, accustomed to weather much colder than the drizzle at Rosedell Elementary School elementary school: see school. on Friday, howled outside as they waited for their introductions. ``The days of the whips and the clubs and the abuse are from a 100 years ago, with Jack London's 'Call of the Wild,''' Harry Schlitz, owner of Mountain Mushers, told the audience. ``Now, it's all about love and respect.'' Billed as Southern California's only touring dog sled team, Schlitz's dogs make frequent trips to schools to educate students about the history and legacy of a sport made famous by Alaska's renowned Iditarod race. Schlitz, who lives near Arrowhead with his wife, Lela, purchased his five-dog team 10 years ago and quickly bonded with the dogs. His team, however, is now down to three - his lead dog, Squaw, died in June at 19, while Star, the gentlest member of the team who Schlitz took to meet seriously ill A patient is seriously ill when his or her illness is of such severity that there is cause for immediate concern but there is no imminent danger to life. See also very seriously ill. children, died of cancer. After calling a young girl up to demonstrate his wooden sled in action - he pulled a rope to simulate the dogs taking off - Schlitz explained that many females have been successful in sled racing. ``You don't have to be a Rambo type,'' he said. ``You just have to love these dogs. It's about mutual respect.'' All 12 years old, Schlitz's team - Mr. Zack, Mary and Jake - are used to appearing before large crowds. But judging from the way their paws slipped along the tiled floor in the multipurpose mul·ti·pur·pose adj. Designed or used for several purposes: a multipurpose room; multipurpose software. multipurpose Adjective room, the canines are better suited to digging deep into the soft snowpack snow·pack n. An area of naturally formed, packed snow that usually melts during the warmer months. snowpack 1. . Jamie Oliphant, 8, said she liked Mary - whom Schlitz nicknamed the Classroom Clown - best because of her silly, kid-like nature. ``I liked Mary because she's funny. She was sniffing around and not paying attention Noun 1. paying attention - paying particular notice (as to children or helpless people); "his attentiveness to her wishes"; "he spends without heed to the consequences" attentiveness, heed, regard ,'' Jamie said. ``And I learned that girls can do it, too, not just boys.'' A purebred purebred progeny derived from at least several generations of animals of the same breed. purebred herds herds (or flocks) composed of purebred animals. Not necessarily registered animals. Distinct from crossbred herds. Alaskan Malamute Alaskan malamute (măl`əmy  t'), breed of strong, compact working dog believed to be one of the oldest arctic sled dogs. It stands about 23 in. (58. who fills the team's swing position, Mary is the only female on the team, but, as Schlitz playfully showed the audience, she has the largest paws. CAPTION(S): 2 photos Photo: (1 -- color) Zack, an Alaskan Malamute sled dog with the Mountain Mushers, gets some attention from students Friday. (2 -- color) Harry Schlitz introduces Zack, a member of his Mountain Mushers sled dog team, to students at Rosedell Elementary School. Shaun Dyer/Special to the Daily News |
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