THE MCPAWS MONSTER DOG PULL.

While reading through the list of activities transpiring at the McCall Winter Carnival I came across an intriguing event -- The McPaws Monster Dog Pull.  I instantly decided it would make a great winter adventure!  When I told Dad I wanted to attend, he grabbed the local paper and read me the information written there about the Dog Pull.  The annual event, a Winter Carnival favorite, is a competition where dogs race to pull sleds full of various weights (depending on the weight of the dog itself) a length of 16 feet.  The fastest dog (in its weight class) to cross the finish line was awarded top prize.  And then he read something that indeed sparked a TRUE adventure!  There would be a weight class for ALL sizes of dogs!  I immediately went from wanting to simply attend the Pull, to wanting to ENTER the competition!  Meanwhile, poor Jackson was oblivious to the fact that HE was to be such a large part of my adventure!  Jackson is quickly becoming an old dog so I figured he deserved  a chance to RUN WITH THE BIG DOGS (since he thinks he is one)! 

The problem with entering Jackson in a Monster Dog Pull competition is that I had no idea if Jackson could ACTUALLY pull the required weight!  So Dad and I got creative!

  

A CASE OF SODA, A BOOT TRAY AND A ROPE!

JACKSON "THE TANK" CORMELL

As it turned out, Jackson, with a great deal of bribery, was indeed capable of pulling his makeshift sled the required distance.  So we were off to the Winter Carnival again for what would be Jackson's first (and probably last) official competition!

WAITING IN THE REGISTRATION LINE.

NOTICE JACKSON IS ALREADY COLD (AND SPOILED)!

ALTHOUGH I HAD BOUGHT JACKSON A COAT THE DAY BEFORE, THE TEMPERATURE IN MCCALL HOVERED AROUND 10 DEGREES!  JACKSON DEFINITELY ISN'T USED TO SPENDING MUCH TIME IN THOSE TEMPERATURES!

DAD AND I WAITING TO COMPETE.

LOOK AT HOW MUCH FUN I AM HAVING!

OH BUT I DO HAVE A SERIOUS SIDE!

THERE WERE CERTAINLY TRUE MONSTER DOGS PRESENT!

GETTING READY TO BE SIZED FOR A HARNESS

HARNESSED UP AND READY TO RACE!

THE START LINE

HE HAS ALREADY SPIED HIS BRIBE--A CHEESE STICK!

AND HE'S OFF . . .

 

JACKSON CROSSED THE FINISH LINE IN 8 SECONDS!

I MIGHT ADD, THE ST. BERNARD'S TIME WAS A MINUTE AND A HALF!

ALL FOR A CHEESE STICK!

JACKSON ENDED UP PLACING FOURTH IN HIS CLASS!

PRETTY IMPRESSIVE CONSIDERING HE HAD NEVER PULLED A SLED BEFORE!

I WAS SO PROUD OF HIM!

THANKS DAD FOR PACKING JACKSON AROUND SO MUCH!

AND MOM, THANKS FOR TAKING ALL THE PHOTOS!

AND IF YOU ARE CONSIDERING ADOPTING AN ANIMAL, BE SURE TO CHECK OUT MCPAWS!  THEY DO AN AWESOME JOB OF FINDING GOOD HOMES FOR AS MANY ANIMALS AS POSSIBLE!  AND THEY HOST REALLY COOL COMPETITIONS TOO!