‘Despair melted away’: Meet a N.B. man discovering pure pleasure in canine sledding

A New Brunswick man who has battled despair for years has discovered pleasure in canine sledding.

Doug Stoakley from Havelock, N.B., appears care-free when he’s round his 16 canines, however there’s typically a heaviness in his coronary heart.

“If it wasn’t for these canines, I actually consider I’d in all probability be 6 toes below,” Stoakley mentioned, whereas gearing up his canines in a sledding path.

“They simply have a approach of constructing you reside within the second and notice what’s essential.”

Like with many who wrestle with psychological sickness, his despair turned heavier when the COVID-19 pandemic hit.

Canine sledding – and zooming by way of the wilderness together with his pack — introduced him a brand new sense of pure pleasure, Stoakley mentioned; it gave him his life again.

“The one time I really feel regular and glad in myself is when I’m within the woods with my canines,” he mentioned.

“The despair simply type of melted away.”

Stoakley and his staff of six canines at the moment are coaching for the most important race of their life.

At 52, the musher has discovered the braveness to participate in his first official canine sled race, arising in March in Fort Kent, Maine.

“It’s within the Appalachian Mountains, so yeah I’m undoubtedly the weakest hyperlink,” Stoakley joked, patting his stomach.

The grueling race will certainly be a take a look at for his physique and thoughts. However for Stoakley, it’s not about profitable.

“I don’t care the place I place, so long as the canines have enjoyable, I’ve enjoyable,” he mentioned.

Coaching and caring for his staff is what provides him a way of goal and peace, he mentioned.

“There’s worse methods to spend the afternoon,” he mentioned with a smile.

1:59
New Brunswick musher coaching canine sled staff for large race

Earlier Video

Subsequent Video

&copy 2023 International Information, a division of Corus Leisure Inc.