Sasha the husky eases into the role of therapy dog

Wednesday, Times staff writer Jerry Hirsch continues his chronicle of Sasha, a husky he encountered on a street in downtown Los Angeles. Hirsch brought Sasha home, only to discover she liked to wander -- and that healthcare for animals who like to roam is expensive. Look for periodic updates on Sasha in the weeks to come on L.A. Unleashed.

Sasha the stray is still with us, despite an almost super-canine ability to escape through fences and metal crates and her giant house trashing panic attack.

Perhaps only the piercing blue eyes of this husky would tell you she is the same delirious, diseased animal I found wandering on Spring Street more than a month ago. The eyes still penetrate into your soul, seemingly questioning if you are friend or foe. Cleaned of fleas and feces and brushed, her coat is snow white cashmere. People stare at her beauty.

Sasha (above left) has become an impromptu, but patient and loving therapy dog, tagging along on visits to a senior living center in Seal Beach. The residents gravitate to Sasha, stroke her and talk about the dogs that once gave them joy in their lives. There’s one lady who dashes -– as best you can with a walker-– to get snapshots of her son’s dogs and compares them with Sasha.

Sasha will be spayed next week and will be ready for adoption when she recovers. At one point I was ready to haul Sasha to the pound to whatever fate would await her. Now I’m not sure if I can give her up. (And I am pretty sure Jennifer couldn’t do it.) Yet as my thinking changes, I wonder if I will ever truly trust this dog. Could we ever leave her alone in the house without coming home to damage? Will walking three to five miles a day really be enough, or will she require more work than I am prepared to provide?

Sasha appears to be 18 months old. If she is to stay we are going to have to reach some common ground between dog and human. Roni, our hyper Labrador Retriever (above right) will never be perfect, and I know how she will misbehave -- snatch food from the table, steal a shoe or great a visitor with a slobbery kiss on the lips. But I also know that she will always play catch and tug with a rope and then lie down next to me when I watch a football game. I don't know what to expect with Sasha. Like her past, Sasha remains a mystery.

Want to read past posts on Sasha? Click on Part one, Part two, Part three or Part four.

Comments

[FoxWood]

Jerry -

Huskies have very specific needs and challenges (all of which you seem to have experienced to the fullest...), but they are some of the most rewarding of the breeds available in terms of loyalty and dedication to their people.

IF you DO keep her, there is a world of information out there on how to keep a husky and still keep your sanity, too... but they all boil down to only one thing: a TIRED husky is a HAPPY husky. you simply cannot over-exercise this breed. There are dog-crating groups (one meets in Costa Mesa - not far from your digs!) which are great, and devices for running the dog on your bike (be sure to wear your safety gear...

OUR Sascha (neutered male, Sascha is Russian slang for Alexander, so he's Sascha Alexander FoxWood... hee hee hee) was attacked by another dog while I was running him and over we both went... broken ribs and a concussion suck.

Regardless, it was a generous spirit which drove you to rescue her, and it will be that same spirit with which you deal with her future... it is very common for huskies to be incredibly neurotic and anxious about separation, particularly when their first parts of life have not been stable.

You should probably not trust her around small animals (cats especially) and birds, as a husky prey instinct is renowned and very strong. Furthermore, you may never be able to trust her in your home without being crated (we still can't after 3+ years into being owned by our pound rescue). It's something you learn to just live with and move on...

All the best of luck to you! You probably won't be able to give her up, even if you want to... huskies and their eyes cast a spell upon your soul :-)

[mmmthmtskier]

Please check out urbanmushing.com for the perfect activity for Sasha.

[Luvsibes]

Sasha is a beautiful success story. Huskies are a wonderful breed, but as othe posters stated, need a lot of exercise..."a tired husky is a good husky". Since it appears you are in OC, please check out the weekend fun runs in Fairview Park, Costa Mesa! Check out www.urbanmushing.com (This would also be a great news story for you!) Also, join the Yahoo Group, Southern CA Working Snow Dogs and learn alot about our breed and meet new people who dryland mush their pooches!

[Maryanne Dell]

Ah, Jerry. The beauty of rescue dogs is you get to discover WHAT they are the longer you have them. Some people would rather not have to do that, but I find it one of life's great joys. Lord knows Fly will be showing me new things daily for as long as he's around. Which had better be a long, long time. : )