Pat Sullivan of the Museum of Maritime Pets in Rockland will review the origins and various types of sled dogs, in conjunction with the museum’s month-long exhibit on the same subject.

Sled dogs have been used for thousands of years in different arctic and subarctic regions, and their origins trace back 9000 years to Zhokhov Island in northeastern Siberia, one of the De Long Islands group which were formerly part of the mainland. The dogs’ keen sense of smell and direction, as well as their strength and enthusiasm for work, ideally suited them for hauling and hunting.

Various breeds, including Malamutes, Samoyeds and Siberian Huskies, were the earliest sled dogs, but today there are several new cross-bred dogs used primarily for racing. Sled dogs are still used for transportation and mail delivery in arctic regions where other transportation is not possible. They are also used for racing and pleasure mushing. Dogs were banned from Antarctica in 1994.

The Museum of Maritime Pets, located at 75 Mechanic Street in Rockland, researches and documents the lives of seafaring animals from ancient times until the present. Its permanent and changing exhibits, research library, and gift shop are open year-round on weekends from 12-4 and during the week by appointment. Learn more at http://museumofmaritimepets.com/home.html.

This event will take place in the Community Room and will be livestreamed via Zoom; the Rockland Public Library is located at 80 Union St. For more information or for Zoom links, please email elewis@rocklandmaine.gov by 12 p.m. on February 20.

Image credit: iStockTRAVELARIUM