Frank Moe gives Indy, his blind sled dog, big hug following a training run. Indy has gained worldwide fame since racing in Frank’s top sled dog team. Photo courtesy of Frank Moe
It’s only been about five weeks since Indy was selected by Frank Moe to be a member of his top sled dog team to compete in the Gunflint Mail Run, and while running in the “wheel” position, just ahead of the musher on the sled and behind the other dogs, Indy had a fabulous race over the 100-mile course.
Two weeks ago, Indy was again in the “wheel” position helping Frank capture fifth place in the John Beargrease Sled Dog Race 120 mile race.
In between the two races, things around the Moe’s house have been a little bit crazy. And it’s all because Indy, the seven-year-old Alaskan husky who is blind, has captured the attention of much of the world.
Last week Sherri Moe, the wife of Frank, reported that Indy was on the cover of The Evening Post, Oslo, Norway’s largest daily newspaper.
The Moe’s were also quickly closing in on one million hits on their webpage that now features Indy, added Sherri.
And nationally, once People magazine ran a brief story about Frank and Sherri’s remarkable dog, there has been a steady march of media coming to the Moe’s Moetown Kennel in Hovland.
In the meantime, while all of the coverage is exciting and puts a needed spotlight on a sport that many know little about, Sherri reports that Frank is in the midst of his racing season. He has been stretched a bit thin while trying to keep up with all of the media demands and demands of training and racing, but he’s maintaining pretty well, she added.
As far as Indy is concerned, he seems content and happy to be with his fellow furry sled dogs in the kennel. He’s never more excited than when he’s harnessed up and put just ahead of the sled. As Frank noted, “Indy loves to run.”
That love of running— and Indy’s ability to run long distances over hilly terrain at a good steady clip—is what convinced Frank to keep training Indy even after he had lost one and then both eyes to lens luxation, a rare genetic disease. At the age of two, Indy was a rising star on Frank’s sled dog team, with thoughts that one day he would make a good lead dog.
When his vision failed, Frank and Sherri discussed making Indy into a housedog, but Indy had other ideas. He loved to run, and through diligent training over the last few years, Indy is getting his chance. He’s not disappointing the Moe’s. He just had to get them to open their eyes to see his big heart and prove that he was still capable of being part of a team.
Today, instead of being a “rising star” sightless Indy is the star of the racing team. Could anyone have seen this coming true?
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