Denali National Park and Preserve is the only national park in America with a working sled dog kennel, and the dogs are an attraction in their own right. It's also hard to beat a puppy when it comes to the "aaaw factor," and thanks to a new on-line "Puppy Cam," fans of sleds dogs can now enjoy live views of young canines at the park's kennels.
The camera was installed in a pen in the park's historic kennels where three sled dog puppies were born about three weeks ago. An image refreshes about once each minute at the link at bottom of the screen. You can view the webcam on the park website.
A park spokesperson notes,"The camera offers new audiences in faraway places a chance to see and learn more about the important purpose, traditions, and responsibilities that sled dogs still have at Denali. Since the park was founded in 1917, sleds pulled by dog teams continue to be the most effective available means for park rangers to patrol vast areas of designated wilderness during the long winter season."
Three pups—Tatum, Koven and Carpe—were born at the kennels on July 27th and 28th. They were named for three small peaks along Carpe Ridge above the Muldrow Glacier. The ridge is ripe with history as dog teams have freighted supplies below these peaks for climbing expeditions.
The temporary camera was switched on two days ago, about a week after the puppies’ eyes and ears opened and just as they were expected to begin venturing outside their small timber house. If you're viewing the image, keep in mind the time difference between Alaska and your location.
The park staff invites viewers to bookmark, share, and return to the link as the pups develop and begin to explore the surroundings of their mother’s pen. Sightings and activity updates will be posted in real time on the park’s Twitter and Facebook feeds “@DenaliNPS.”
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Comments
It's appalling that the rangers force the dogs to live at the end of a chain. Jurisdictions across the United States have banned or severely restricted chaining because it's cruel to dogs. For more facts, go to the Sled Dog Action Coalition web page: http://www.helpsleddogs.org/remarks-abuseinkennels.htm#chaining
P.S. They are not living at the end of a chain. It might be time to check out the webcam, Margery.
Wow. All that's going on in our government and national park system, and we get puppy cams from NPT.
Hmmmm, I don't see a chain. I see a rather nice kennel and dog house.
@Anon 8/23 6:23pm I can't live in the doom and gloom 24/7. I've always got time for the puupycam! It lifts my spirits :)
I too, was concerned about the dogs...that is until I actually visited them in July. We saw volunteers jogging down the road with the dogs, as well as the love they all received from their handlers. The dogs at Denali are very well cared for, and appear to be happy and in very good shape.