North Wapiti Siberian Husky Kennels

Gone...but not forgotten

Butch at 11 yrs old

"BUTCH"
ONE TIME IDITAROD VETERAN
NorthWapiti's
Butch Cassidy SD
(Ch. The Professor of NorthWapiti CD, SDU, TT x Meomar's Sunshine Coast Orca)

August 12, 1994 - February 27, 2007

Although retired now, Butch was a very hard driving, hard headed Siberian. He is pointed in the ring, although showing was never his past time of choice. He was a leader, although we did refer to him as the 'Scud missile' - with him up front, you knew you were going somewhere (and FAST) but you had no control over where exactly it was.
 
Probably Butchie's biggest contribution to our kennel is in his offspring. Not only is he an Iditarod finisher, but 3 of his sons (Orion, Draco, and Surge) and 2 of his daughters (Dasher and Sprite) have also finished the Race. I consider him to be the most important 'producer' in our kennel.


 
Butch’s Tribute

This time of year seems to be jinxed for us. Almost exactly a year ago, Striker unexpectedly passed away, two years ago Howl and Spud died while I was up in Alaska.

This year the Geriatrics had looked so good when I left, I couldn't imagine tragedy striking again. However, last night I got an email from Mark telling me to phone him because he 'had some bad news'.

Yesterday morning Butch had a stroke and had to be put down. Although he was the oldest dog in our yard, we were both caught off guard by his passing. He had been having a great winter - happy with his 'harem' (Joey, Jumper and Camilla), bouncing and acting like a puppy whenever you walked into his pen. Mark said he was even like that on Monday night.

In our kennel and lives, Butchie will always be a legend. A big, strong, beautiful, hard driving dog - I've believed for years that he was one of the finest Siberian Huskies we have ever produced. He was pointed in the show ring - although he HATED that and made it clear that that was not his calling in life. He was a finisher of a whole lot of races, including the Iditarod. Running was his calling. Butch didn't know how to slack off or quit. He was a force of nature.

He had a total lack of respect for rules, was never serious about anything, and threw himself into tasks he loved with total abandon. At 12 ½, he acted like the biggest puppy in the yard. We all could have taken lessons from Butch on how to live.

The other thing he did exceeding well (and often) was sire litters - often without our blessing. You never turned your back on The Boy for a second when he was near a female, but any litter sired by Butch was a good litter.

He was blessed with the ability to produce offspring as good, if not better then himself - a trait many 'great dogs' lack.

Notable dogs in our kennel sired by Butch are - Draco, Orion, Surge, Squeaky, Barq, Dasher, and Sprite.

To say he will be missed just doesn't begin to cover it.

Karen

Major Races
Iditarod 2001
Iditarod 2000
Grand Portage Passage 300
Klondike 300 (multiple finishes)
Knik 200

Current Working Status
R
ainbow Bridge

Show Status
2 points

Offspring
with Alaskan's Jumper of Anadyr  (Sprite, Barq, Pepsi, Fresa, Dew, Gator)
with NorthWapiti's Ginger Grant (Surge, Squeaky, Mo, Will)
with CH NorthWapiti's Valkyrie Kara (Dasher, Dancer)
with NorthWapiti's S.S. Minnow, SDX, TT (Draco, Orion, Cassie, Lyra)


Butch's Photo Gallery & Pedigree
(click to enlarge image)
 
Butch Butch in lead Butch in lead Butch as a pup
CH. The Professor of NorthWapiti, SDU, CD, TT
BIS/BISS Can. Ch. Chuchinka's Shawn Boy, SD
Can. Ch. BIS/BISS Shisaido's Satinkist Swordsman, C.D.
Ch. Shisaido's Butler O Innisfree
Ch. Innisfree's Shisaido Sinkist
Chelyuskin's Mila
Atim's Trapper
Chelyuskin's Promise
Meomar's Miss Liberty
Northome's Sayak At Spindrift
Northome's Spook SD
Kuchin Ring Snowmist
Meomar's Quick Lynx
Atim's Tyee
Foxy Lady Moria Of Meomar
Meomar's Sunshine Coast Orca
Meomar's Ojibawa
Meomar's Kwalaw Bear
Atim's Tyee
Foxy Lady Moria Of Meomar
Atim's Nicola Natomah's Rodeo Boy Of Zorka
CH Atim's Po
Meomar's Guildenstern Meomar's Lightning
Atim's Manitou
Foxy Lady Moria Of Meomar
Meomar's Cat Ballou
Meomar's Kwalaw Bear
Atim's Nicola

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