The big happy face pounding on the kitchen 'blast door' is a 72 lb. cheerful bundle of pure muscle and enthusiasm we named A. J. (after agent J in Men in Black). He and a companion were literally thrown out of a car on a busy freeway into traffic lanes. Fortunately, the kind people behind the heartless jerk who tried to murder the dogs, managed to round them up and get them to safety, and eventually to us.

Today we are going to a dog show; a major event in Long Beach. Huskies are showing four different times over three days and each ring will have 24 to 39 huskies. Some friends are here from Santa Barbara and they are showing two huskies. So, we go to watch and spend time with them.

When we arrive at the ring there is quite a hubbub going on. The buzz is that there is a truly amazing husky there. It is a Certified Hearing Assistant dog! Yes, I am shocked. I can't get huskies to ever listen TO me much less listen FOR me. Yet, here is a husky that is certified to be a companion for hearing impaired people.

Everyone, including our friends are telling us we have to see this gorgeous animal. As we are walking over to the crowd, it is mentioned that the dog's name is Frosty. Robbi and I stop and look knowingly at each other. And we laugh. Frosty is one of our rescue dogs. Two years ago in a pit of a shelter known as Baldwin Park, lay a husky. Filthy, abandoned, hit by a car, its rear leg was wrapped in an old ace bandage. No, the shelter figured no one would want the dog and they did not want to spend the money on a vet to repair the leg. It healed up slightly crooked. On the last hour of this husky's last day, we rescued her.

Within a week, a fellow named John contacted us. He had a certified therapy husky, a dog that worked with Alzheimer's patients. It has passed away after 12 years and he was looking for a husky that could do what this therapy dog did. That is a major challenge in a husky. But John saw potential in the Baldwin dog and adopted her. He named her Frosty. It turns out Frosty excelled in such things. She passed a two year therapy dog training in four months. Then she passed another two year training for hearing assistance in less than one year. And now, two years after we had pulled her out at the last minute before death.dirty, abandoned and broken, she was not only beautiful and a wonderful pet, she was actively contributing to humanity in a way few dogs can ever do. She was the center of attention and adulation in the center of a show highlighting some of the most acclaimed huskies to be found anywhere.

No, Frosty was not competing. Some dogs are champions without ever entering a show ring.

Christmas gifts come in all shapes and manners. The gift of satisfaction.that a small kindness we did for a forlorn animal has brought a wealth of joy to others makes all the heartache and trouble of rescue work seem worthwhile and nary a burden at all. I wish you this same hope; that you will come to see and realize how your simple and patient efforts to rescue can touch so many others in ways we never imagine. It is truly a blessing.

Merry Christmas
Scott, Robbi, TAZ and all the rest of the Siberian Cyclone