Utah dog sledding team gives rescue dogs a second chance

Estimated read time: 3-4 minutes

PEOA, Summit County— One of the nation’s top dog sledding teams calls Utah home — and its members are dogs that might not have had a home otherwise.

At Rancho Luna Lobos in Peoa, Fernando and Dana Ramirez run a rescue for nearly 130 Nordic-breed dogs, including Siberian huskies and Alaskan malamutes. (They also have a few St. Bernards, just for fun.) Many of these dogs were surrendered by families who didn’t realize the level of care and activity these breeds require. “There are a lot of families that love the idea of having a northern breed, but they don’t quite understand the maintenance that goes behind that,” Fernando said. "A lot of owners aren't really as present. So then the dogs ... they take it upon themselves to create their own routine in their schedule. And unfortunately, it doesn't work out with the family and maybe their home decor will be rearranged if they're bored." The Ramirez family gives these dogs what they need most: purpose. Through daily tours and training, the dogs live active lives. For many of them, that means becoming sled dogs. The team has raced internationally and represented Team USA four times, ranking among the top mushers in the world. “I just want to redirect their energy into doing something productive,” Fernando said. “And 95% of the time, it works out great in our favor. They love to be sled dogs.” Fernando said the idea developed from his own childhood, when his parents gave him some ground rules for getting into competitive dog sledding. "If I wanted to compete and if I wanted to participate in the sport, we would have to focus on dogs that were either rescues (or) owner surrenders," he said. Fernando also credits his upbringing for his ability to work hard, as running a sanctuary and rescue for so many dogs can be grueling. "I come from a long line of Mexican vaqueros — ranchers down in Mexico," Fernando said. "I guess with my parents and my grandparents and my ancestors, their upbringing was always working with the animals and creating that connection with them." But this rescue is about more than racing. Dana Ramirez said working with these dogs brings a deeper meaning. “There’s so much that comes into this when you’re working with animals, and especially these dogs and rescue dogs on top of it. They really do have a soul,” she said. One dog, Humberto, embodies that spirit. Despite losing his eyesight, Humberto continues to lead the pack with help from his teammates.

"He has actually had his eyes removed because there was pressure in his eyes that was pretty significant and painful," Dana Ramirez explained. “His story is all about living your best life, no matter what the odds are."

For Fernando and Dana, these dogs teach lessons about perseverance and purpose. “His story really tells us that if you really want to accomplish something, we shouldn’t be taken over by self-doubt or fear,” Fernando said. “We should just keep taking one step at a time and moving forward to achieve our goal.” Some of the dogs at Rancho Luna Lobos are adopted out, with the agreement that if the new owners find they don't work out for them, they bring them back to the ranch. During the summer months, they also run camps for youth, encouraging kids to disconnect from technology, and connect with the dogs and nature. [gallery ids="869251,869250,869249,869248,869252"]