Mackey's dog Zorro on the mend, heading back to Alaska

Published Friday, April 4, 2008

  • Print story
  • E-mail story
  • Comments
Veterinarian Kobi Johnson tends to a woozy Zorro at Tacoma,Wash., Veterinary Imaging Center on Monday, March 31, 2007. "His best chances were 50-50 until we got the MRI," says Johnson, who was in Alaska as champion musher Lance Mackey's private vet during the 408-mile All Alaska Sweepstakes sled dog race. The 9-year-old faces weeks of recovery from four broken ribs and severe bruising suffered when he was hit Friday by a snowmachine near Nome, at the end of the  race.

TACOMA, Wash. -- A key dog for Iditarod and Yukon Quest champion Lance Mackey is heading back home to Alaska after receiving treatment for severe injuries that initially left him with a 50-50 chance of walking again.

Zorro was riding in Mackey's sled as a result of a sore shoulder last week during the All Alaska Sweepstakes race. A snowmachine going about 60 mph crashed into the sled.

The snowmachine ski hit Zorro in the ribs. Dr. Kobi Johnson of Tacoma's The Animal Emergency Clinic says Zorro suffered four broken ribs and bruising up to the spinal column and into the spinal cord.

Although doctors say Zorro will never pull a sled again, Zorro is walking again and wagging his tail, too.

For updates, visit www.mackeyscomebackkennel.com.

Comments

  1. danzop
    4/5/2008, 9:51 a.m.
    Suggest removal

    Come on 60 MPH and the sled stopped 30 feetdown the trail use common sense when writng articles the public is not stupid.
    Congratulations Zorro too bad you had to go through the tramatic trip to Wa to find out you'll be OK I guess your owner has no faith in the Alaskan Vets.

  2. AVERAGE_JOE
    4/5/2008, 3:51 p.m.
    Suggest removal

    danzop: I agree if that sled was going 60 mph,
    there wouln`t be a need for a vet.

  3. echo317
    4/5/2008, 5:18 p.m.
    Suggest removal

    danzop, on the comment of Zorro's owner having no faith in Alaskan Vets, ever think that his Vet. might of suggested the Washington Vet?

    Guess it all depends on how much you like your animals? I've taken my dog for a rare surgery out of state with out any ill feelings from my Vet. Are there not plenty of dogs to go around for each Vet in Alaska?
    Why do some always "jump the gun" when someone does something out of the norm?.........guess thats what Post a comment is for!

  4. arcticbird
    4/9/2008, 1:27 a.m.
    Suggest removal

    I echo what Echo has said ,Advised to go to Wa.!would you like your genral practioner doc to treat your spinal injuries ?
    Ive suffered a broken back, now twenty years on and i still go through my gp to be referred to a specialist.
    If the truth be known this accident has kicked the sh*t out of Lance, ZORRO was on the team for sentimental reasons and ime sure lance would have had him back in the team leading the way home to make history if he could, in which i think he said was Zorro's final race.
    Its sad when all you want is the best and you end up with the worst possible outcome.
    Pick yourself up Lance and show them you can do it again !

Post a comment

Commenting requires registration.

Username:
Password: (Forgotten your password?)

Comment:

Also inside
Today's news / Photos / Local / Alaska / Sports / Opinion
Features
Sundays / Health / Food / Outdoors / Latitude 65 / Youth / Business
newsminer.com
Archives / About / Feedback / Privacy Policy / User Agreement / Staff / Jobs / Contact / Feeds
Submit
Letters to the Editor / Events /