Every night auroras could be seen during Norway's Finnmarksløpet race.

FINNMARKSLOPET:  You’ve heard of the Iditarod. But do you know about the Finnmarksløpet? “Finnmarksløpet is the world’s northernmost sled dog race and the longest in Europe,” explains Kerstin Langenberger of Finnmark, Norway. “It was held this year in mid-March. Every night auroras could be seen – it was awesome!

“Most of the time I was busy helping at the race, but at the Sirma checkpoint I managed to photograph some auroras dancing right above a few of the teams that were having a few hours of well-deserved rest,” says Langenberger.

Indeed, March 2010 has been one of the busiest months in years for Arctic Lights. It’s a sign that the sun is waking up from a long slumber. For the record, the 1019 km race was won on March 18th by Ralph Johannessen. He and his dogs crossed the finish line in only 5 days, 8 hours and 58 minutes … under green skies, of course.

Also at Finnmarksløpet: A Fuskey!

The United States Postal Service has announced that it will now begin offering Animal Rescue: Adopt a Shelter Pet commemorative postage stamps.   They are intented to help promote animal rescue efforts, and purchases will help feed 1 million shelter pets.  Pre-order yours today!  To learn more, click here or visit http://stampstotherescue.com/.

No, really.  This husky loves you.  If you don’t believe me, click here so she can tell you herself:  I love you

Dogs are more than just man’s best friend!  Check out the video here:  Hide and Go Sheep

PEOPLE Pets reports:

Forget the Iditarod. Earlier this week, residents of Anchorage, Alaska, were all about the Snausages Man Sled Race, a crazy event in which people pulled pups!

Four teams of humans dragged sleds — with dogs as the mushers — and raced across a frozen pond to win money for their pet charity of choice.

In a photo provided by Del Monte Foods, Malmute musher Buddy rides the sled as it is pulled by dog sled racing veterans Danny Seavey, left, and Dallas Seavey, center, and teammate Mari Troshynski during practice Tuesday, March 2, 2010 in Anchorage, Alaska, before the first-ever Snausages Man Sled Race. The race benefited local pet-related charities. Buddy's team won the race. (AP Photo/Al Grillo/Del Monte Foods)

PEOPLE Pets is reporting that celebrity couple, Nick Lachey and Vanessa Minnillo have adopted a husky from a rescue organization.

The 1-year-old Siberian husky, named Kona, was on display at a roadside adoption event in Los Angeles. “I was driving down Ventura and we saw rescue dogs on the side of the road,” he explained. “Vanessa was with me — I don’t make those kind of decisions alone anymore — but since I grew up with a husky, I couldn’t resist.”

To read more, click here.

Thanks to a microchip, a German shepherd puppy missing for 2 months was reunited with his owners – 600 miles away.

A Virginia couple has been reunited with their German shepherd, which was found hundreds of miles from home in Florida. Pamela Holt, of Stuart, Va., says she thought DeLand Animal Control Officer Gary Thomas was playing a “mean trick” when he called to say he found 18-month old Deacon. The dog had been missing since December. The Holts thought their dog had died.

To read more, click here.

A seriously injured cat was saved by a persistent dog in Florida.  Toby, a Schnauzer, led his owner into a wooded area where the cat was discovered.

“When the owners finally followed Toby, they discovered a cat completely infested with maggots. The infestation was so bad that the cat’s face was nearly eaten off, but the feline was still alive. 

The cat was brought to Safe Harbor Animal Sanctuary and Hospital for treatment.”

To read more, click here.   Warning: graphic images.

From Verlyn Klinkenborg’s Feb. 14, 2010 NYTimes editorial:

At 10 degrees, the Minnesota air is just cold enough for the dogs with heavier coats, like the left wheel-dog, who dips his snout in the snow more often than the dogs ahead of him. I am seated in the basket of the sled, as stiff as a quartered moose. Behind me, riding the runner, is the musher, Kelly Murphy. We slow now and then to let the teams behind us stay close, and when we do, the dogs — seven of them, right and left of the gangline hooked to their harnesses — look impatiently at us, haunches quivering, ready to pull and pull again.

read more

Pucker Up!

Here is some puppy love for you. We all know there’s no shortage of Valentine’s kisses when you  have a special pet in your life. Today The Daily Puppy features Echo, the Husky Mix puppy, who has a smile as sweet as sunshine.

How about a pooch smooch?

View more pictures of Echo here.

Pucker Up!