Description:
Balto is one of those dogs that I just can't get a picture that shows how pretty she is. Trust me, she is the type of dog that people will stop you and say, "Wow! What breed is she?" And you'll say, "Uh, I don't really know but it sure all came together beautifully, don't you think?"
Balto has coloring that reflects a Shepherd, but her fur is longer and fluffy. We think she is part Husky because she doesn't have the stocky build that she would get from a Chow heritage (or the "it's my way or the highway" attitude). Besides, I like Huskies, I'm the one who does the website, and I'll call her anything I like, so there!
Oh, and speaking of calling, I named her Balto after the dog in an animated movie about the origins of the Iditerod. I thought our Balto was a male like in the movie, but no, he is a she ~ no one tells me nothin'! But the name stuck, and she remains Balto.
See, all this writing and I still haven't really told you anything about her. Well, first, she is in a fantastic foster home. Brittney has fostered several of our dogs, is as faithful as can be about giving us information and getting them to the Petco adoption events. Love her! This is what she wrote me about Balto the first day after getting her home:
"Here are some attempted photos. She does not like to cooperate, so I will keep trying for a perfect one. I would say she is German Shepard mix with Chow, they are both pretty present. She is the color of a German Shepard, brown and black, with long hair like a chow. With regards to her age I have no idea, Judy gave us senior dog food so I am not sure but she looks as though she has not grown into her large paws yet! She is probably around 50 lbs and is moderately active. She is very well trained knows paw and walks right along side you and stops when you stop, only pulls on the leash when she is looking for a spot to pee. I have two cats though and does not get along with them, so a home with no cats would be the best, we have to keep them apart. Otherwise very friendly and well trained. "
I hope we can get better pictures of her, but if you're near the Altamonte Petco this weekend, it's worth dropping by just to see how pretty this girl is! And, you know, even if you're not in the market to adopt a dog, you should seriously consider fostering dogs or cats. I hope you have a sense of how vital our foster families are to our program. Every time we find a foster home we are able to say yes to a pet needing to be rescued. Won't you consider being part of our team?

According to www.dogbreedinfo.com, native to Siberia, Huskies were used for centuries by the Chukchi people to pull sleds, herd reindeer and perform watchdogging functions. They were perfect working dogs for the harsh Siberian conditions: hardy, able to integrate into small packs, and quite happy to work for hours on end. The Siberian Husky is a very light-weight sled dog with great stamina. It was brought to Alaska in 1909 by fur traders in Malamute for arctic races because of their great speed. In 1925 there was a diphtheria epidemic in Nome, Alaska and many dog teams relayed the precious medicine to the stricken city. This event focused national attention on the Siberian Husky and helped popularize the breed. The Siberian Husky was also used during Admiral Byrd's Antarctic Expeditions. An excellent pack animal, the Husky gets along well with his comrades. These dogs are gentle and playful, but willful and mischievous. This cheerful dog is very fond of his or her family. A puppy at heart, they are clever, sociable and loving, easy-going and docile. Good with children and friendly with strangers, they are not watchdogs, for they bark little and love everyone. Huskies are very intelligent and trainable, but they have a mind of their own and will only obey a command if they see the point. Training takes patience, consistency and an understanding of the Arctic dog character. This dog will take advantage if he can. Huskies make an excellent jogging companion, as long as it is not too hot. This breed likes to howl and gets bored easil