Marco
Husky Club contact number incl. Husky Rescue: 0871 277 6783
23 dogs in Welfare
2 dogs booked to go out
6 dogs rehomed in September
Marco joined us in 1994 after we had gone through a rigorous evaluation by Dutch and Martin Warrell (Peaslake) and Joi Barnes to ensure that we would be ideal parents.I was divorced and bringing up 2 kids aged 14 and 17,run the house and keep a job. I had lost a German Shepherd to cancer some years before and sworn never to have another dog. Anyway,one thing led to another and the three of us talked it through having already decided on a Siberian if we went ahead.Visits to a number of rallies soon confirmed our liking for the breed and we decided on a rescue dog having been duly warned of potential problems awaiting Sibe owners.
Early in 1994 my son and I drove down to Cornwall from Sussex to collect Marco and,after a long meeting with Joi and a "bonding walk" in the local lanes the three of us set off on the long journey back to Sussex. I was fairly that both we and Joi had made a good choice of partners when,a short time into the journey, I looked round and found Marco streched out across my son’s lap and they were both fast asleep.
Marco took some time to settle with us.Although not mistreated by his previous owner who had died, he had been in welfare for about 8 weeks,forgotten his toilet training and ate as though he was unsure when he would see another meal. Marco also became very adept at stealing food and we frequently "lost" french loaves which he would remove from their wrappers,bite into snack size chunks and hide down the side of armchairs. In his time he has also devoured packets of Ryvita, packs of butter and managed to get lids off biscuits and a new jar of pickled beetroot (didn’t like the taste of those though).
We have only had 2 mishaps with Marco. The first,in the early days, when despite all our care, he managed to eat a yoghurt carton and suffered toxic poisoning which was well diagnosed by the local vet who administered suitable treatment. The second occasion was about 2 years ago when some local lads came to clean cars at my partner’s house.The side gate was inadvertently left open and Marco wandered. It’s a long story but he was missing for 12 hours having apparently been "found" and subsequently sold for an alleged £100.00 in a pub approx 7 miles away. The only reason that we managed to have any idea of his location was when the purchaser, having found my phone number on the dog tag, phoned to ask if he could buy Marco’s dog bed. I made all sorts of threats when and he cut me off. It was only a subsequent call from his girl friend(more threats from me about the police, possible runs if fed incorrect food and all the difficulties in keeping a husky) that convinced them that we should meet and they would hand Marco over to us. I had already reported the loss to the police and they were not too happy that I had made my own arrangements to get Marco back but I guess we would all do anything to ensure the return of a loved one. There was a lot of muttering at the hand over about the loss of his £100.00 and, to this day, I am not certain if he did pay someone the money or was just trying to put the squeeze on me having kidnapped Marco.
As I write Marco is lying on the floor beside me. He lives happily here with my partner and I, a 13 year old border collie/spaniel bitch and 2 cats.He eats well but is still an opportunist thief if we leave any food within reach. He stalks the two cats who stand their ground but we would never leave Marco on his own with them as we feel the temptation would be too great.
Update - 04 January 2001:
Marco unfortunately succumbed to arthritic hip and spine spondolitis at 13 years of age just before Christmas and had to be put down. He was a good friend and support to my kids and I for 7 years after my divorce and will always be fondly remembered.
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