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Monday, July 13, 2009
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'Look at the size of those paws' Explorer Ann Bancroft likes what she sees when she gets dog in Nisswa By RENEE RICHARDSON Senior Reporter NISSWA - A lakes area dog named Scissors is finding a new home with an internationally known explorer.
Ann Bancroft, famed polar explorer who was the first known woman in history to cross the ice to the North and South Poles, was in Nisswa Saturday afternoon to meet Scissors.
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Famed polar explorer Ann Bancroft (left) and her niece, Morgan Bancroft-Howard, met Scissors, an Alaskan Malamute Saturday in Nisswa. When Scissors' owner Brett Cote moved to Micronesia, he knew the climate would not suit his dog. He decided to contact Bancroft to see if she would give Scissors a new home.
Brainerd Dispatch/Steve Kohls
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Bancroft said she receives a lot of e-mails from people who have a dog they think she may want. But when she received an e-mail from Brett Cote about his dog, there was just something about the story and his young Alaskan Malamute.
"I don't know why I jumped on this," Bancroft said. "There was just something - and something about Brett."
Cote, Nisswa, got the dog when he lived in Alaska. When Cote and Alison Laffen recently moved to Micronesia, they had to find a new home for Scissors. Cote relied on friend Paul Fitzpatrick to watch the dog and began an e-mail correspondence with Minnesota native Bancroft.
Bancroft drove from her Scandia home with her 11-year-old niece Morgan Bancroft-Howard to see the dog for the first time Saturday.
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Paul Fitzpatrick lifted Scissors into Ann Bancroft's vehicle Saturday in Nisswa. The dog will now join Bancroft's Scandia home to begin a life of school tours and dog sleds.
Brainerd Dispatch/Steve Kohls
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Alaskan Malamutes are one of the oldest Arctic sled dogs and are described as large and powerful. Scissors lives up to the claim and is so large two-by-four wood spacers were used to make a giant-sized dog carrier even bigger.
Bancroft was a little astonished at Scissors' size when she met Fitzpatrick near Grand View resort for the exchange.
"This is like what we took to the North Pole," she said, dropping to one knee to get a better look at Scissors. Bancroft said she didn't usually see female Malamutes reach this size, rivaling their male counterparts.
"You are huge," she told the dog. "Look at the legs on you, woman. You are gorgeous. ... Look at the size of those paws."
Bancroft made the trip after getting a photo - basically a headshot - and a description of a two-and-a-half year-old mellow 100-pound dog that was good with children. She exchanged e-mails and conversations with Cote.
With her aging 14-year-old male sled-dog Blue at home facing his last summer, Bancroft wasn't looking for a puppy. When she got the e-mail, Bancroft was intrigued by the 2 1/2-year-old dog.
And she described Cote as being heartbroken at giving up the dog, which was a key indicator at how much the dog was loved. She found the list of Cote's friends who were available dog-sitters another good sign.
It was apparent Scissors and Bancroft and her niece hit it off quickly.
"I don't even need the rest of a team for you," Bancroft told Scissors.
While Scissors doesn't have the sled-dog experience, Cote did go skijoring - where Scissors pulled him while he was on skis. Bancroft said it sounds as though Scissors has the right idea.
In 1986, Bancroft was the only female member of the Steger International Polar Expedition. She traveled by dogsled for 1,000 miles to the North Pole. She also led an expedition crossing Greenland in 1992 and in 1993 led the American Woman's Expedition to the South Pole covering 660 miles on skis in 67 days.
In 2001, Bancroft and Liv Arnesen became the first women in history to sail and ski across Antarcticays landmass, completing a 94-day, 1,717-mile trip, as documented on the Ann Bancroft Foundation Web site.
Beyond her polar exploration, Bancroft devotes time to teaching children, showing people how to enjoy the wilderness and encouraging and supporting achievements by women and girls through her foundation
Bancroft is planning an expedition to Antarctica in 2011. Scissors won't make that trip as sled dogs aren't allowed. But Bancroft said she plans to build a new team of eight sled dogs with Scissors.
"She can start us off when my old boy passes," she said.
As for the experience of crossing snowy terrain with sled dogs. Bancroft smiled and said: "There is nothing like it."
RENEE RICHARDSON may be reached at renee.richardson@brainerddispatch.com or 855-5852.
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