Profiled Sponsors and their Happy Mutts
Real sponsors and the dogs they support, with the stories behind each pairing.
Sponsoring a dog costs a variable sum depending on its age. We keep the sums realistic rather than nominal, so sponsors know they are truly supporting a dog's care at the farm rather than making a token donation.
- Sponsorship sums are set to reflect real care costs, not token donations
- Old dogs and pups can cost as much as working dogs in vet bills
- Many sponsors go on to adopt or visit their dogs
- Profiles pair each sponsor with their dog's story
How we price sponsorship
We price the puppy and retired categories below working dogs, since children are drawn to the young ones, though old dogs and pups can actually cost more in veterinary care. Matsku, one of our old retirees, spent her entire 2016 sponsorship allowance on a mammary tumour operation that bought her more quality months of life. We are hugely grateful for any support towards the whole-life care of our dogs.
Some of the pairings
A few of the sponsors and dogs who have found each other over the years.
- Celine and Jerome: support some of our harder cases, but their hearts lie with the A-pups, especially gentle Amber
- Paul Moody and Cecilia Xausa: sponsored our oldie Eden, then gave him and Manso a retirement home in the UK, passing Eden's remaining sponsorship to shy yearling Firn
- Patricia and Michael McCormack: Anna's parents sponsor Princess and Mercury-Mick
- The Frei family: involved since 2013, they have adopted four dogs, sponsored several more, and now support star leaders Sanna and Leon
- Noah Wilson: sponsors Sisu, whose name means strength and bravery in Finnish, after his own remarkable recovery from a freak accident
Currently sponsored working dogs
Some are among our best dogs, others simply favourites of clients and guides: Amber, Firn, Lumi, Elara, Titan, Soda and Sisu, plus Balto, Princess and Mercury-Mick. Amber, sponsored by Celine & Jerome, is a gentle giant and wonderful sled dog. Sisu, born with a squished chest yet a race dog, is sponsored by the James Family for their friend Noah.
Currently sponsored retired dogs
Retired through old age or poor health: Diva, Kurpitsa, Tore, Elting, Hendrix, Yesper & Yasper, Pluto, Saturn, Cherry, Sanna, Leon and Bono.
Diva, almost 12, is one of our best leaders, sponsored by Malina. Tore, from Switzerland and a senior at 13, still loves to run, sponsored by Burri & Sylvia Rieke. Hendrix, our oldest husky, still runs and pairs well with young pups. Yesper & Yasper are so strong that theirs is the only cage we always send a client to with a guide, walking back one dog each.
Currently sponsored puppies
These pups are still training to become working dogs: Sonic, Star, Jinx, Solo, Sierra, Skylar, Siren and Scamp.
Sonic is sponsored by Francesco & Giulia, who own a Siberian husky themselves. Star was chosen by Karoliina Kaseva, who visited in 2018, since her father is allergic to dogs. Jinx, the smallest of her litter and an escape artist as a pup, is sponsored by Clement, who interned in the 2019-20 season. Scamp and Siren were sponsored by grandparents for their grandchildren Tapio and Lily, partly to help Lapland's husky farms through the pandemic.
Ready when you are
Real wilderness, 200+ huskies, eighteen winters in.