Ice dog festival thrills children in Waterloo
The Autism News | English
WATERLOO — A malamute bearing the unlikeliest of sled dog names – Sherman – managed to stir excitement in seven-year-old Connor Cluff Saturday afternoon at the 9th annual Ice Dogs Festival in uptown Waterloo.
“I loved it, I’ve loved huskies every since I wanted a dog,” enthused the little boy, while repeatedly tossing wet snowballs at a reporter.
Connor, who has autism, spent 30 agonizing minutes standing in line with his parents Paul and Jennifer Cluff, waiting his turn to climb aboard one of half a dozen sleds pulled by singles or pairs of the huge northern dogs.
Each sled was led by a handler who gave children a trip around a track set up in a small park behind Waterloo Public Square. Luckily, after several days of bare grass in Waterloo Region, a sudden overnight dump of snow made conditions nearly ideal for the sleds and the heavily furred dogs.
The Cluffs learned about the Ice Dogs Festival while searching on line for winter activities and eagerly travelled to Waterloo from their home in London. Jennifer said her son has been talking about huskies (smaller versions of the northern breeds) for about a year and a half but she was still reluctant to tell him that he might be able ride on a sled.
“I kept it a secret,” she said. “We got here, and crossed the road and, when he realized where he was going, he just about exploded.”
Connor was accompanied by his autism dog, a two-year-old golden retriever named Ollie whose job it is to keep the boy both safe and calm. Connor loves Ollie, but seeing the malamutes, the dogs of his dreams, was extra special.
“He loves dogs, he’s always been an animal lover,” said his mom.
Paul added, his son was particularly thrilled when Sheldon jumped up on the boy’s chest and gave him a sloppy doggy kiss.
Now that Connor has had the sled dog experience his mother plans on creating a component in his home schooling program about the grueling, two week Alaska Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race, which begins March 3.
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