Sled dog teams began arriving in Calumet this morning for registration and veterinary health checks ahead of the Copper Dog race, which launches tonight at 7 p.m. from 5th Street.
Veterinarians met teams at the Incredible Bank parking lot to examine the health of the canine athletes before the weekend competition. The medical team will travel with the race to check on dogs as teams arrive at each night’s stop.
Head veterinarian Lara Stephens-Brown said the team will work with every dog participating across 68 teams throughout the weekend races.
“It’s still going to be pretty warm, which is great for people. It’s a little warm for the dogs. But then pretty quickly after they’re on the trail it’s going to get cold this weekend. And it’ll be cold for people, but great for dogs,” Stephens-Brown said. “These are going to be pretty good temperatures for them to perform at their best.”
Stephens-Brown emphasized the importance of paw care for the working dogs, noting that mushers take extensive precautions to protect their teams’ feet.
“There’s a phrase ‘No hoof, no horse,’ and that’s equally important for dogs, especially working dogs like sled dogs,” she said. “For foot care, the mushers do a really good job of taking care of the dogs’ feet. A lot of them have creams they’ll put on. Booties to protect them along the trail.”
Stephens-Brown will lead the veterinary team alongside Dr. Lizzy as co-head veterinarians for the first time this year. Both have served as important team members since 2015.
The veterinary crew includes specialists such as oncologists and surgical experts, and uses the event as an opportunity to provide hands-on experience for veterinary students working with the animals.
