Warden students learn about sled dogs
Ema Porter holds on to one of her family's sled dogs.
WARDEN — Fifth grader Hunter Grant gently pets the fur on Susie, one of seven sled dogs brought to Warden Elementary.
“Now that’s a good dog!” said Grant after the excited dog calmed down a bit.
Fellow classmate Amanda Conteras, 10, said petting the sled dogs was one of the things she wanted to do as well.
“I want to feel their fur and pet them,” she said.
The sled dog demonstration Friday was part of a culminating event for the 78 students who have been studying about sled dogs and the sport of sled dog racing for the past few weeks, said fifth-grade teacher Maureen McPartland.
As the main organizer of the event, McPartland said the demonstration has become a highly anticipated event for the fifth-graders.
“It’s a great way to show the kids in person what they are reading in the classroom,” said McPartland.
Tom Porter, dogsled racer and enthusiast, and his daughters have been bringing his rescued sled dogs from his Wenatchee home for the past five years to the elementary school.
He said he has competed in several sled dog competitions, most recently the Cascade Quests race in Leavenworth.
Sled dog racing is a timed sport that utilizes several dogs to pull a sled with a musher, or person steering the sled, on top of it.
The musher who finishes the race in the least amount of time wins.
Porter said it is a joy to be able to share his passion with the students.
“The educational aspect of this demonstration is really what keeps me coming back,” said Porter. “It gives the kids a chance to see what it’s like to have sled dogs.”
Porter also brought sled dog racing equipment to show the students.
Alexis Gonzalez, 11, said she was looking forward to seeing what the dogs looked like.
“I rubbed it in to my cousin in fourth grade that I was going to see the sled dogs and she wasn’t,” she said.
Daniela Morales, 10, had a similar experience.
“My sister in first grade keeps asking me if she can see the dogs, too,” she said. “I say ‘no, it’s a fifth-grader thing’.”
After showcasing the dogs, Porter held a question-and-answer session for the kids.
“Which (dog) do you like best?” asked one student.
“Susie, probably,” joked Porter. “No, it’s hard to choose a favorite, I like them all.”
Porter said the most frequently asked question was how much food it takes to feed his dogs.
“We go through anywhere from 150 pounds to 200 pounds of dog food per week,” he said.
The students prepared a potluck to share with Porter and his family after the demonstration.