March 31, 2008
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Update on Zorro’s Condition and MORE
An article in the Seattle Times, posted half an hour ago, quotes Kobi Johnson, the veterinarian caring for Zorro, as saying he will make a full recovery, but his racing days are over.The Fort Mill (SC) Times reported 45 minutes ago that the snowmachine driver who ran into Lance Mackey’s sled and injured Zorro had answered Lance’s plea that he come forward and take responsibility. Lance declined to identify him, but confirmed that alcohol had been involved.
Photo of Zorro by Jan DeNapoliLance Mackey’s dog Zorro was injured near the end of the All Alaska Sweepstakes Friday night/early Saturday morning. He was riding in the sled bag after they left the Safety checkpoint, when a snowmobile operated by an unidentified man ran into the sled, impaling the sled bag on its runners.
“I was flashing them like mad with my
headlamp,” Mackey said. “I was shining my headlamp right in his face,
but they kept on coming at me. I jumped aside, and by 30 feet farther
up the trail, there was a snowmachine sitting on the middle of my sled.”“Three
or four dogs were sucked underneath, and Zorro was trapped in the sled
bag,” Mackey said. “We had to physically remove (the snowmachine) from
the sled.”The snowmachiner and his partner on another machine helped Lance remove the snowmobile from his sled, then left without identifying themselves. From Nome, Zorro was flown to Pet Emergency in Anchorage, and then to Seattle for MRI studies on his spine. Results of the MRI have not been reported.
Lance’s website says, “Zorro sustained 3 broken
ribs, some internal bleeding, and spinal injuries. He
is not able to stand or use his back legs.”Nine-year-old Zorro was in Lance’s winning team for the 2008 Yukon Quest, sat out the Iditarod, and was to have retired to stud after the All Alaska Sweepstakes. Most of the dogs in Lance’s winning teams, and about half of all the dogs in his Comeback Kennel are descended from Zorro.
Lance Mackey (shown above at 4 months of age) grew up around sled dogs, and his love for them is obvious to anyone who sees him with them or hears him speak of them. His father and older brother are both Iditarod champions. Lance is called the Comeback Kid for having survived throat cancer, the loss of his salivary glands, and a finger amputated due to nerve damage… and that’s just for starters. His life story is one of comeback after comeback.
Photo by Bob Hallinen, Anchorage Daily News, of Lance saying goodbye to Zorro at White Mountain during the 2007 Iditarod. Zorro didn’t finish that race due to pneumonia, but he came back to win again this year. We hope he’ll come back to the dogyard to sire many more winners.
Comments (20)
I hope they can find those snowmobilers and that they have some consequences.
Holy cow–that’s horrible. I didn’t realize that running into packs of dogs was so common, until reading your blog. Or perhaps it’s not? (I recall reading here that one of the teams got hit while resting by a snow plow).
People make me mad. Obviously this was an accident (or, rather I really really hope it was), and I’m sure the snowmobilers feel horrible. However, you don’t go tearing around, especially when there’s an event going on and you know people and their dogs are out and about. Also, you do the right fucking thing and identify yourself and try to help; beyond just pulling the sled out.
That’s horrible! I hope Zorro is able to recover…
How could you just leave the scene of an accident you caused like that?!?
@soul_survivor -
@Fodon -
@eeyore17026 -
Last night when he was telling me about this, Greyfox said that since this happened, former governor Frank Murkowski is no longer the most hated man in Alaska. We are both pretty sure that the identity of the men will come out.
Lance urged the race officials to try to keep snowmachines away from the trail as the rest of the teams came in. He said the last few miles into Nome was horrible, with snowmachines everywhere.
The conflict between the dog teams and “iron dogs” is longstanding. The machines don’t just hurt the teams they run into (Lance compared it to a truck hitting a compact car.), they tear up trails and make them rough going for the dogs.
It wouldn’t surprise me if alcohol was involved… and the reason people hit and run is fear of consequences.
poor thing!
Such beautiful dogs. I hate it when sad or wicked things happen to them.
My husband asked me a few days ago why the cat listens to me more than she does to him. I thought about it and decided it’s because she and I have found a common language. It sounds hokey, but it’s more like a combination of Will and Empathy, I think. Just thought I’d throw that out there.
How awful!
I hope Zorro is all right!
That’s terrible; let us know if he’s alright.
One can surely see the love between man and dog in that pic; great shot.
Thank you for the update on Zorro. I am glad the pupster is going to make it but sad that he can’t race any more. I hope he has enough in his doggy life to keep him happy and busy. your essay on the pain switch was one that I use for extreme heat. I get inside the heat and accept the heat and suddenly I am okay. I don’t know what to do with what I am feeling or even know what I am feeling today. Mostly defeated, worn out, used up, finished, grieving for nini, useless to anyone and without joy in any activity including no actiivty.
Drinking and driving, no matter what the vehicle, is a recipe for disaster.
What a mess!
I miss Alaska.
is that the dog shown pictured with him right after the race??
the dog with the sweet smile on it’s face?
not that it matters but…well, yes it does. that picture just completely touched my heart. never have seen a more content looking dog.
the sheer arrogance of some people when around machinery [or anything for that matter] continues to sadden me with each passing year.
that all knowing “i know what i’m doing” bullshit…
alright alright…now i’m sufficiently pissed off at the mystery driver and other pinheaded assholes like he/she.
nope…just scrolled back. the picture was of lance and “handsome” [aptly named btw]. similar faces though and, either way, i still want someone’s ass in a sling and hope that the driver is treated like the driver of a car is when alcohol’s involved. not sure what the rules are in alaska of course, but i know it’s no slap on the wrist by the good ol’ boys club in kansas anymore.
May Zorro heal well and quickly!
May he come happily into stud service!
Peace and affection!
Poor Zorro, drinking and snomobiling don’t mix!!!
@LuckyStars -
Handsome (or Hansom) is probably one of Zorro’s (or Zoro’s) descendants. Last year, Lance, on his website and in emails, was spelling Zorro, “Zoro”, but I think the media brought him around to their way of spelling. The same thing could happen to Hansom.
Gads. How horrible. I’m glad that Zorro is going to recover though. I’d have strangled the snowmachiner… as soon as he helped them get the machine off my fucking dog!
Gee whiz! What a jackass to attack a sled with dogs, injure them and leave. And that’s the nicest thing I can say….
I pray that Lance isn’t too distracted and he and his amazing pups are able fight on. I just can’t believe the spite and sheer jackassery of someone who could do that to someone else, yet alone a dog. I hope they find out who he is and that punishment is swift and painful.
Go Lance! I’m sending positing, healing thoughts to you….
Zorro is so precious. It’s so sad to hear stories like that. And Lance really sounds like a fighter with all of his obstacles.
The Fort Mill paper takes my thoughts back to home, as I live very close to there and have family there. Makes me a little homesick…