Jamaica Dog Sled Team: Coolest Sun Dogs On Ice
A Jamaican Dog Sled Team? That’s a joke right? Or so I thought when my new friend Gerard over at Facebook invited me to join the Jamaican Dog Sled Team Fan Club. Still chuckling at the thought I visited the group and could not believe what I was reading.
There really is a Jamaica Dog Sled Team. No this is not a reincarnation of the Jamaica Bob Sled Team you remember from the movie Cool Runnings. These were real honest to goodness Jamaican born (and abandoned) dogs who are now celebrities in their own right.
The story reads like the makings of a Disney animated film.
The stars of the Jamaican Dog-Sled team, called Sun Dogs are from the exotic breed called Lergnom. Known for their strength, hardiness and survival skills – the Lergnom of Jamaica has proven to be perfectly suited for international dogsledding. A Jamaican Lergnom can and does live under some of the toughest conditions. I believe our animals, especially our dogs and cats too have adopted the Jamaican psyche of surviving under tough conditions.
Will you quit searching Google for Lergnom and read the rest of the story! There is no exotic breed of Jamaican dog called a Lergnom. People, a Lergnom is Mongrel spelled backwards. Sorry I couldn’t resist…
As I was saying, when Gerard sent me this video, I could hardly wait to see the beautiful Jamaican born Huskies. Which Huskie? There wasn’t a single one in sight. Instead, I met 9 beautiful mutts. These were no ‘ole dawgs’ as you can see for yourself. At the Jamaica Dog Sled Team website I met all the girl and boy dogs who along with their rider Robb are now competing and representing all "dogs" of Jamaica on the international dogsledding circuit. Nuff Respect to the dogs of Jamaica! Now Beenie Man will have to ask for their autographs.
I feel a certain kind of pride in the achievements of a little island like ours. Small in size, but big in accomplishments. Like we say back home, "wen wi good wi good, an wen wi bad wi badder dan Yaws!" We have so much to be proud of, and so much crime and violence to be ashamed of.
Our little island is known the world over for Reggae/Dancehall music, for actors in Hollywood, for brilliant minds in academia, for outstanding contributions in religion, for gold medal Olympic athletes and the fastest man on earth in Asafa Powell. We have also had the Jamaica Bob Sled Team, then we had the Reggae Boys who defied the odds and made it to the 1998 World Cup in France. We have the Sunshine Girls # 4 ranked Netballers in the World and now we have the Sun Dogs.
Even our animals are getting in on the action. You may follow their performance in the present championships in the US where their Rider Robb is now ranked # 7 in the world. This from a rider and mongrels who were never born and raised in snow. What is it about us that make us so adaptable?
The main sponsors of the Sun Dogs are Jimmy Buffet of Margaritaville and Chukka Adventures. Buffet, and Danny Melville of Chukka Adventures teamed up with Chris Blackwell of Palm Productions and even made a DVD of the Sun Dogs. I am hoping to get my hands on a copy of that soon. (Of course, one of you my dear readers could always decide to make me a happy child by sending me one. Hint, Hint). Part of the proceeds from the sale of the DVDs is donated to the Jamaica Society For The Prevention Of Cruelty Against Animals.
Follow the story of the Sun Dogs, Jamaica’s Dog Sled Team at their blog. Be entertained by their enthusiasm, infectious smiles (yes the dogs wear sunshiny smiles), meet Devon the Dog Whisperer (seriously), and Robb the Rider. Warm your hearts to a truly inspirational story of Jamaican dogs who were rescued from the animal shelter and made into a world championship team. Not to mention Robb and Devon who are now on the international circuit for something they had idea would ever take them so far.
If that doesn’t inspire you, you need to be whispered to.
Mush Mon!
Marvia
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March 16th, 2008 at 11:49 am
Keep on the lookout for brand new articles on this topic….
March 16th, 2008 at 9:47 pm
What a neat story! I love your exotic breed, the Lergnom. That’s a cute twist. I remember the movie, Cool Runnings, and now Jamaica has a dog sled team! I’ll have to check out the Sun Dogs blog now!
March 16th, 2008 at 10:08 pm
Thanks Darlene,
I know you’ll love the Sun Dogs.
Yes that’s an exotic breed in Jamaica
March 17th, 2008 at 9:38 am
[...]Tell China to STOP Skinning Dogs & Cats ALIVE! [...]
March 17th, 2008 at 11:05 am
With the whole M Vick story, I have a new appreciation for how deeply dog lovers feel…
Great story!
March 17th, 2008 at 2:36 pm
@ Shepherd’s Haven,
Cruelty toward animals is unacceptable anywhere.
I have a friend who is a strict vegetarian. She thinks WE meat eaters are cruel to animals. What do you say?
March 17th, 2008 at 2:42 pm
Adrian,
Great seeing you..
I just couldn’t keep quiet about this one. I just love dogs!!
March 17th, 2008 at 3:23 pm
Marvia, what a wonderful story, thanks for sharing it with us. At first glance I thought it was the Jamaican Bobsled team (dog style though), but I see it is a wonderful story of some special animals.
Onelove..iriegal
March 17th, 2008 at 10:42 pm
Dee,
Thanks for stopping by. Yes, these guys are truly special. Dem have ‘lion heart’!
Best wishes
April 6th, 2008 at 5:22 pm
What a fun article. I smiled the whole way through reading. Loved the play on words for lergnom, it truly gives mongrel the respect it deserves.
Peace
April 7th, 2008 at 7:43 pm
Sandra,
Glad you enjoyed the story. Lergnoms do not get a lot of respect at all. I believe that contributes to the abuse they receive. Sure people are just plain mean to animals. However, we tend to place a greater premium on ‘brands’ and ‘pedigrees’…even in human beings. Sad…
Best wishes!
August 11th, 2008 at 2:56 pm
Another inspiring yard story. Our four-footed lergnoms are making us proud. Now if only some of the two-footed ones will stop giving them bad name….
January 22nd, 2009 at 12:42 am
[...] The Yukon Quest 1,000 Mile International Sled Dog Race is not a day out with the dogs in the park. This is the toughest 1000 Miles for man and dogs ever! Now tell me what on earth is a Jamaican doing on that icy trek? Well he’s Dog Sledding. Dog what? And what the devil is a musher anyway? Remember last year when I told you the story about Sun Dogs in Jamaica Dog Sled Team: Coolest Sun Dogs On Ice? [...]