11/04/24
February 16, 2012
Iditarod Dog Runs Away in Alaska: The German musher Silvia Furtwrangler had a small problem after she arrived in Alaska to prepare for the Iditarod sled dog race a week ago. Her lead dog, Whistler, escaped the truck and ran into the woods around Anchorage. Neither cries of "Whistler, kommen sie!" nor moose steaks and bacon lured him back, and he was seen at various places around town for four days. Finally, a brownie and roast beef lured him into the garage of someone who saw him on the news. "Iditarod dogs bolt from their mushers seemingly every year -- often during the race, but sometimes before, when teams arrive in Anchorage and skittish huskies, unfamiliar with the city, disappear into neighborhoods," reports the Anchorage Daily News.
The supposed Iditarod entry is a clever cover. The dog was sent on a secret surveillance mission to Wasilla by the stealth agents of Drudge Retort.
posted by beaverboard at 11:30 PM on February 16, 2012
"Furtwrangler", really?
posted by yerfatma at 09:39 AM on February 17, 2012
"Furtwrangler", really?
I checked the link, and the correct spelling is "Furtwaengler". The surname, or at least variations of it, is not uncommon. There was a famous conductor named Wilhelm Furtwangler who was considered the foremost interpreter of Beethoven's works. The real story is that the mutt was looking for more Milk Bones.
posted by Howard_T at 01:43 PM on February 17, 2012
Le Pétomane's muse, no doubt.
posted by yerfatma at 02:40 PM on February 17, 2012
Perhaps he was just more eager to start the race than the other sled dogs.