I enjoyed learning more about the Iditarod from behind the scenes from the point of view of the Vet's that keep the dogs safe. Because the safety of the dogs comes first. As it should.



I received a copy of this book from the publisher through netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine alone.

This was an incredible book about the Iditarod, its history and personal stories of the mushers and their dogs. The stories were very interesting and the author wasn’t afraid to tell us when he screwed up. I enjoyed learning the history of the race and many of the towns along the trail. There was a lot of information given without being boring. There were details I’d never thought of in relation to the Iditarod, such as the number of volunteers it takes to make it happen, and the fact that they are volunteers. The number of booties the mushers go through is amazing. It was good to hear that the mushers value the health and safety of their dogs. The author even covered the story of Balto. I’d heard of him but there was a lot more to the story than I’d heard before.
I received this as a free ARC and am leaving this review voluntarily.

Thanks Netgalley and W. W. Norton & Company for access to this arc.

“Four Thousand Paws” interested me because it promised to show the side of the volunteer veterinarians who endure frigid temps, crap coffee, white knuckle small plane rides, among other things, to take care of the medical needs of the dogs and ensure their health and safety.

There are strict guidelines to be followed for checking the dogs and signing off that this has been done. Vets are there to be sure the dogs are healthy and fit for the next part of the race. If a dog needs to be dropped, most often the musher will already be aware and willing to do so for the safety of the dog. Dropped dogs are not just abandoned but kept together until they can be flown back to Anchorage and then kept there until the musher retrieves them. Dogs that need immediate attention – such as when a man on a snowmobile attacked two teams one year – will be airlifted especially rather than wait for a group trip.

There’s more to the race for Morgan than just his official duties and he talks about the various checkpoints where he’s worked and some of the more colorful aspects of life there. He shows great respect for the people and history of Alaska. The book is also loaded with photos. He’s been volunteering for years and has combined his experiences based on checkpoints rather than tell just the story of any particular year. One thing I like is that he doesn’t skimp on times where he made mistakes – like letting a dropped dog get too close to the food supplies, even if he didn’t fess up to the musher whose supplies got eaten – or fell prey to the elements – such as when he sank up to his neck in a snow drift right in sight of the teams leaving a checkpoint and a (gleeful) journalist there to capture the day.

The Iditarod officials have gotten better and stricter since the beginning of the race in ensuring that the dogs are well taken care of and their needs are seen to. Mushers have often bred their dogs and raised them from puppies and thus have a close bond with them. Morgan can often tell veteran dogs as they know the drill when it comes to being examined by the vets at the checkpoints. Other times, he’s been the victim of dog pranks by playful rookies. Morgan obviously enjoys taking part in the race and it was fun to read about his experiences.

What a powerful book. I had no idea the complexity of what it would take to care for the dogs. It makes sense but never had the view that I had until I read this book. Thank you for the opportunity to read this one! I hope everyone goes and reads it.

I can't even explain how fantastic this book is! I rarely read non-fiction ~ it really has to grab me and the title alone pulled me in and made me want to learn more.

For the longest time I've been very interested in the Iditarod and other than the articles most see during the Iditarod, I never read much about it. This is such an easy read that I just found myself wanting to read more and more, eventually not wanting to put it down or have it end.

I was fascinated by the stories of the vets, the dogs, the mushers, the support staff, and the locals. I can't imagine how the mushers do this year after year! I know I never could. There are many heartwarming stories in this book, a few sad, and of course, a couple that made me so sad for those involved.

Four Thousand Paws is well written and not only is it filled with first-person stories and recollections, but there are some great photos also. If you need something different, a book unlike any others you've read, pick this up, make some hot chocolate, and enjoy!

Thank you to the author, publisher, and Netgalley for an ARC at my request. All thoughts are my own and happily shared, as always.

Watching the Iditarod as a spectator would leave you wondering how this race could ever be organized and the dogs taken care of when the main obstacle is the weather and it's unpredictability. The huge crowds that are drawn to Anchorage, Wasilla, Fairbanks and ultimately to Nome can never understand what it takes to insure the safety and health of these canine athletes and their families. My family lived in Alaska for 30+ years and it's clear to see up close the dedication of the handlers and their trainors who raise their dog packs from pups and from one generation to another. The veternarians come from all over the globe to insure the care of these animals. So many do not understand the 24/7/365 care that is required to maintain a healthy team. This is an awesome book of one such vet that shares the inside scoop on these all stars.

I should tell you up front that I came to this book with far more info than the average reader. True, it's pretty obvious I came for the dogs but I not only live in Alaska, but about two miles from Iditarod Headquarters. Not only that, I've attended several Iditarod races and have even ridden the runners of a sled. As Morgan reveals in the book, it's a rush. Needless to say, I was psyched to get this book to review. It definitely brings the dogs and race to life. Kudos, Lee Morgan.

For those unfamiliar with the race, it officially covers 1,049 miles through some of the most isolated, challenging terrain and weather one can imagine. Temps in the negative fifties aren't uncommon, not are encounters with moose. Let's just say, if a moose takes a notion to take offense at your team and charges at them, it's like being hit from the side by a good-sized pickup truck. There are other predators, of course, which is why most mushers carry a weapon in their sled. All this while covering a trail that may be marginal, not to mention with dangerous drifting snow, frozen streams or overflow, brutal stumps and snags, deep ruts from teams that have gone before you or maybe worse, no sign of the trail at all. You will cross the frozen Bering Sea as the race nears the end, too. The musher has to depend on their dogs to find that trail since, at times, in a blizzard or episode of gale force winds, the musher may be virtually running blind. Needless to say, each checkpoint, there are usually 26, is a welcome site.

And that where Morgan and the team of vets that are out in conditions not much better than those that face the mushers come in. This is both his story and counter against those who claim the dogs are mistreated. Quite frankly, even with my relatively strong background in all things Iditarod, I found his story both informative and fascinating. It's a fun read, almost like you're sitting by a campfire listening to him share his experiences (and misadventures). His sense of humor shines through, too, adding to the enjoyment.

This is where I'm duct taping my fingers to keep from going on endlessly about the contents because, well, you need to read this book and enjoy it in its entirety. You'll learn a great deal about not only the race itself but the standards the vets and mushers are held to. They're not working out of a climate controlled office, I should note. I've been to checkpoints and found myself nodding as I read about, say, the tent at Finger Lake Checkpoint. Yep, spot on, Lee Morgan. Getting to Nome is a definitely a challenge and, as Morgan notes, while the teams may move along, the planes moving the various teams of vets don't fly when the weather isn't safe, either, so you can be in some places awhile. But, what a rush. And, oh, the dogs. Their sheer joy and the love they share. You'll smile as you read about his vet check experiences, both before the race and along the trail as he meets some of the most remarkable canine characters ever.

My thanks to trail vet #LeeMorgan, #WWNorton&Company - #Liveright for allowing me this sneak peek behind the scenes. Even this Alaskan once immersed in all things Iditarod learned something new and came away with a smile.

When I was in upper elementary, we had an assembly in the old gym–a special place reserved for community events, plays, and award ceremonies--which hosted an Iditarod competitor. Through the haze of nostalgia, I remember that we got to meet and pet the huskies as well as learn about the race and the musher's experience. Ever since then, I've fostered a latent curiosity about the Iditarod. I've never been so inclined to do additional research about the race or even follow the race as it's happening, but I am so incredibly glad that there is this new book about the Iditarod. The author, Lee Morgan, is a volunteer veterinarian who has served on the Iditarod for several years, this is the first book written by one of the vets. What a unique perspective on the race! 
In this book, Morgan discusses his experiences with the dogs as well as some behind-the-scenes tasks during the race. At each checkpoint along the route, mushers must have a vet check over their dogs to ensure that each and every one is in good health before continuing on. If a dog is not in good health, they are airlifted back to the race headquarters to be cared for by other volunteer vets. Throughout his years of service, Morgan was assigned to various checkpoints throughout Alaska, and the book is structured in a way that gathers his experiences at each checkpoint as through we were traveling along the Iditarod route. We learn about the unique geography and lodgings of these checkpoint as well as the varied landscapes the mushers and dogs have just experienced in their race to each one. Some checkpoints boast locally made moose chili or homemade pies, while others require the veterinarians to build the heat stoves until the checkpoint is broken down. Mushers and veterinarians may be treated as heroes by local children or they may be in such remote locations they can only be reached by aircraft. And, along the way, we learn about the race itself and the mushers and the dogs. 
I loved reading this book. The reader gets to learn about some of the challenges faced by everyone involved in the race--the dogs, the mushers, the volunteers. The author writes in a very conversational tone, and the book is fast-paced. I learned so much about the Iditarod and had a blast doing so.

This book is a very interesting read. I highly recommend for anyone with interest in the Iditarod race, or even just an interest in sled dogs. The entire book was fascinating to me. There were several topics to keep me intrigued. It mostly went over the race through the eyes of a vet perspective. I never honestly thought about vets being at checkpoints and the intense things they deal with. The isolation at some of the checkpoints and how much they’re needed. I’ve always been a fan of sled dogs. I think their history is amazing and all that they’ve accomplished. I am a millennial, so naturally Togo was always one of my favorite stories. We’ve all heard of Balto and Fox from Kaasen’s team and were originally taught they brought the serum to Nome. Morgan did a great job in one of the chapters on this topic by adding some additional information. I had no idea what happened to Balto and part of his team. I knew Kaasen was a piece of work, but did not know the depths of his cruelty. It definitely made me shed some tears. I also loved that this book had several photos. I particularly loved the black and white photos. There’s one of a huskey looking out of a window that I thought was beautiful. I appreciate all of the extra work that went into this book. One of my favorite parts is honestly how check points were described and the towns. I don’t know too much modern info about the Iditarod race, so it was interesting to understand how Covid-19 affected the race. There’s also a chapter dedicated to a pair of brothers that were well known mushers. Overall, I think this book it’s extremely interesting and easy to get lost into. There’s a wealth of knowledge inside, so I think this book is worthy of several rereads. I will definitely order a physical copy. I highly recommend to all of us dog lovers that left a piece of their heart with Seppala and Togo.

The first ever book about the Iditarod from a vet's point of view!

I loved the background and setting of the scenes - the details were incredible. About the dogs, but also the campsites, the people and the surroundings.

If you love dogs are are curious about the behind the scenes, read this!

I want to start out by saying that I am primarily a fiction reader but I will read nonfiction books when I am intrigued by them and especially when they involve dogs as I am a huge dog lover. This book fascinated me from the start.

This is the tale of a trail veterinarian's experiences with the Iditarod. Told through the eyes of someone who focuses primarily on the dogs, he tells a story that has not been told before. The depth of the appreciation for these animals is clear in each and every page. The experiences are told in a way that brings you into the race itself and keeps you on the edge of your seat. The writing definitely matches up with the intenseness of the race itself.

There is great attention to detail when describing all of the preparation that goes into not only the care for the dogs but in being able to keep the voluntary veterinarians from getting hypothermia.

The best part of this book is that it not only tells you the history of the race but it also tells you how the race has evolved. There has been controversy over the care of the dogs in this race over the years. He takes great care to explain how the care has improved and how much these veterinarians, mushers, etc care about these dogs first and foremost. There is a focus on preventative care as well as immediate action as soon as a dog needs to be airlifted to recovery and is well taken care of until they are reunited with their musher/owner. It is important to pay attention to the stories he tells that reflect just how much that the owners and veterinarians care about these amazing animals.

I love how the author takes the time to describe where the name husky comes from and how these animals are equipped for the work that they do. Everything from their double layer of fur to the webbing in the feet that prevents ice buildup is fascinating and somehow perfectly constructed for these dogs who love doing what they do best.

The author does such a good job at describing the Husky personality and how different it is from other dogs. At one point he tells the story of a husky who outsources the game of fetch. That had me laughing out loud and was one of my favorites in the book.