Long Distance Adoption: Adopting My Alaskan Malamute Across State Lines from Cowley County Humane Society

It was late at night and I was staring at the picture of Mishka, a white Alaskan Malamute puppy, on Petfinder.com. There was something in those soulful eyes that told me I needed to adopt her. Problem was, she was in the southern part of Kansas and I was in Colorado.

It wasn't as if I needed another Malamute. I owned three at the time and had several more sled dogs. And yet, several years before, I had lost my favorite Malamute, who also happened to be white. On a lark, I sent an email asking them if she was still available.

A Postponed Sentence

Little did I know that my query came in the nick of time. I later learned that Mishka's time had run out at the shelter and my email had saved her from being put down. Shelters like Cowley County try to hold onto animals as long as possible, but with the influx of other animals on a daily basis, they must euthanize to make space for other pets. Mishka spent time in foster care and the director looked for ways to hang onto her while I found out more about her and planned to get her.

Honesty -- A Great Policy

Mishka, it seemed, was considered a handful. She was not good with other dogs, as some Malamutes are not. She was headstrong, which almost all Malamutes are. She needed someone who understood Malamutes. I gave the shelter a run-down of my background, being a professional dog writer and pet expert. I had adopted several dogs beforehand, all living well into their senior years. The stories they told me about Mishka made me think that she was just a Malamute with an inexperienced owner. Her owners had turned her in when she was eight months old and she was nearly ten months now. The more I heard about her, the more I knew I had to adopt her. I sent the adoption fee and paid for her vaccinations in advance.

The Trip

The problem was how to get her to Colorado. The drive to Winfield, Kansas was more than eight hours away. My husband and I talked about possibilities, and we asked the director if perhaps someone would meet us partway in Hays, Kansas. Amazingly enough, a kind volunteer agreed to take Mishka to Hays and we drove from our home halfway across Kansas. It took six hours one way and we met at a hotel and I got my first look at my new dog.

For a Malamute, she was small, but that really didn't matter. She was outgoing right at the start and we signed the necessary papers and took her to the back of our car. Mishka immediately settled in a crate we brought and we drove back to Colorado.

Welcome Home

For the first several days, we learned about Mishka's bad habits. Like all Malamutes, she had a destructive streak and would raid garbage or steal pieces of paper and shred them up. She immediately made best friends with Haegl, one of our male Malamutes. She and Kira, one of my female Malamutes, didn't get along, so we separated the two older Malamutes and the two younger ones, giving them times outside of their crates.

Even with these bad habits, she was a fast learner. She was eager to please and quickly fell into the home routine. She wanted direction and someone who understood the Malamute nature. Both my husband and I marveled at what a wonderful dog she was.

Mishka proved to be a fiercely loyal dog, fending off four large dogs when they attacked her, Haegl and my husband on a walking trail. When we accidentally left the gate open, Mishka was instrumental in keeping Haegl on our property. Both Mishka and Haegl stayed on the property running around for about an hour until we realized something had happened.

A Happy Home

Right now, Mishka is sleeping at my feet, happy and content. After five years, she has proven to be a great dog and one who just needed the right owner who understood the behavioral issues her breed often has. If you're thinking about getting a dog and find one across state lines or at an animal shelter, try making it work. Your best friend may be just across the state line.

References

Petfinder.com

Cowley County Humane Society