Anyone who knows me knows without question that my pack never wants for anything. I put their needs as my top priority and most everything I do is in someway connected back to the dogs (and cat) from buying sheets that are easy to clean of dog hair hah to looking forward to Prime days not for personal shopping desires but rather to stock up on all the supplements and supplies we use year round!
People are often asking what they can do to support this wild dream we’re living out and I always shrug because…but…I was encouraged to put this page up so here it is :). We are so grateful for all the support and love we’ve received and it certainly makes it possible to dream bigger and beyond the beginnings we’re laying down the foundation for in our new home in Fairbanks!
Routine Costs of the Wanderpack
For full transparency, I figured I’d list off some of our expenses. While having more dogs would make buying in bulk more appropriate, it doesn’t change the fact that the staggering cost of keeping a group of dogs (and a cat) thriving and able to continue to do what they love is mind blowing! While I’d love to have our “what’s next” mean we might expand to include a few more dogs to allow us to keep exploring and running even as my girls get older and desire more and more time inside snuggled up and warm rather than out working hard in the cold and wind…but…the cost of expanding makes me nervous.
Purina Pro Plan Bright Minds $87/30lb bag (lasts ~8 weeks)
Purina Pro Plan Sport 30/20 $75/37.5lb bag (lasts approximately 6 weeks)
Raw Beef/Raw Chicken: ~$45.00 for 30lbs or 40lbs depending on blend and protein source
Vetmedin (1 tablet 2x a day for Sydney’s heart murmur): $185 (every 50 days)
Phycox MAX (joint supplement for the true seniors) $89 (90 day supply)
Phycox (joint supplement for sled dogs) $79 (120 day supply)
Instinct Raw Boost Freeze Dried Beef/Chicken Mixers ~$25 for a 4-5 week supply of each formula
Native Probiotics (OG crew) $80 (120 day supply)
Native Bone Broth beef/chicken $35 (~50 day supply)
Treats (yes these are “extra” but they’re important to me to have for them) ~$30 a month between jerky/meat based treats and more generic milk bone type treats
Bales of straw: $19.99 a bale (I was fortunate to buy 4 bales for $14 in the Fall which should hold us over for the winter)
Booties: ~3.30 a single bootie (I purchased 48 booties this Fall which will hopefully last all season and beyond with plenty left fresh since we aren’t doing anything crazy and they don’t need booties every day with our trails and runs here)
Fi Tracker GPS subscription: PEACE OF MIND is priceless but….$189/year ($336/2 years) PER dog wearing an active collar
Dog Houses: $100 in supplies before paint
Vet Bills: we knock on wood haven’t had to visit the vet aside from a quick $70 visit for Sydney since we’ve arrived in Alaska but we will all get established and have annual bloodwork and assessments as need be over the next few months…but Jip’s vet bills last year with her surprise cancer diagnosis was a quick $3,000 between initial fine needle aspiration and visit, surgery and cytology and further diagnostic imaging. Sydney had two surgeries in 2024-2025 for removal of her cysts each costing $1500.
Dog Sponsorship
This program allows supporters to pick one of the dogs in the Wanderpack as “their own” for the year. The year will look different for each dog from participation in some events and races for the sled dogs and just exploring and thriving in their new surroundings for the Aussies. The money raised will help cover many race expenses, food and other health supplies that are needed to get through the season. These dogs are loving exploring their new surroundings and all that adventuring takes lots of fuel so they eat a lot but they’re all also aging with every member of the pack currently considered “seniors,” so more than ever they need the continued best care and attention. As a Dog Sponsor, your name will be listed on our website and in our race bios for any events participated in this season. As a thank you for your support you will receive an annual gift (Wanderpack Swag) as well as several personal updates and pictures throughout the year including access to each dog’s “scrapbook” with photos of them over the years.
To sponsor a dog, please send me a message (morganandthewanderpack@gmail.com) regarding which dog you are sponsoring as well as all your contact information: email, cell phone number and mailing address. Your sponsorship donation can be sent via Venmo @Morgan-schutz-1 or PayPal (Morgan.e.schutz@gmail.com) or check (see address below).
JIP
$250
Jip joined me while I was still in Eureka working as a handler…that is…she fell in love with me and I fell in love with her and it didn’t go unnoticed and by late November, I knew she was forever mine and mine hers. As such, she traveled from Alaska with me back to NY/VA just before her 7th birthday (8/14/2016) where she got to experience things most sled dogs probably never could even imagine…the beach, heat, humidity, doggie daycare, ice cream, pup cups, and so much more! Quite the change of daily routine and environment for a former Iditarod finisher and Quest champion! In February/March 2025 she was diagnosed with a mammary carcinoma and had surgery within days of diagnosis to remove the tumor (which was used to make the formal diagnosis) and then a few weeks later had additional imaging in order to insure there was no evidence of cancer anywhere else in her body/organs. Fortunately, she got a clean bill of help with no detectable cancer at that point and a good prognosis as rate of recurrence is very low for her specific type of cancer. But…life is unexpected and therefore we just get out there and live each day to its fullest. Jip is the greatest gift I ever received and I am so thankful that she is mine and that she will forever be the spark that ignited this new adventure as we returned to Alaska.
| JIP’S LIKES | JIP’S DISLIKES |
| Squishy/gummable balls like Chuck it! Max Glow balls | Dogs encroaching on her sleeping space |
| Bolster beds | Not being allowed to run like a banshee loose through the woods |
| Treats (any and all but loves freeze dried meat based treats, cod/fish skins, meat stick types best) | Car rides (sometimes) |
| Running (pulling and loose) | When Morgan goes to work |
| Sprinklers and puddles | Being patient |
TOCK
$250
Tock is the most recent addition to the pack, joining us just before her 9th birthday (8/14/2016) and getting to truly experience the flip side of life from what she had previously known. A 2022 Iditarod champion, multiple time Quest champion and the mother to several litters who’ve gone on to become superstars of their own accord, I NEVER dreamed I’d be the one this little goofy girl called “home.” I was asked in Fall 2024 by Jeff and KattiJo Deeter whom had had her in their kennel (where she had a Summer 2024 litter for them with one of their males) if I would be able to give her a “retirement home” at the end of the season. I have to be honest, knowing that Tock needed a home and that I was the first one considered helped light a fire under me to make Alaska happen as I knew where I was in Virginia I couldn’t take on another dog. It seemed very serendipitous because moving to Alaska meant Jip would likely spend her days outside and I didn’t want her to be alone outside so I had already known I would need to add a pack member if we got back to Alaska…the fact that her littermate could be the one who joined us…stars truly align when you’re following the right path! Tock ended up waiting for us with our good friends Mollie and Sean Busby up at the Arctic Hive in Wiseman, AK for a few months until I arrived where she was a little monster, showing that she wasn’t anywhere ready to be fully retired! She flew down to Fairbanks on 7/10/25, just a day after we arrived at our new cabin from our drive from the east coast and within a few days her and Jip were thick as thieves and she has settled into our pack with such ease it’s almost inconceivable that it’s only been but a few months still!
| TOCK’S LIKES | TOCK’S DISLIKES |
| Balls and playing catch | Getting booties put on (just getting dressed in them, not wearing them) |
| Getting anything Jip wants, first | Being told “no more kisses/snuggles right now” |
| Treats (any and all but especially motivated by meat sticks/jerky and freeze dried meats, fish skins/dried) | Being patient |
| Giving kisses and SMUSHING Morgan | When Morgan goes to work |
| Bolster bed(s) (especially the one that goes on the real bed) |
SYDNEY
$200
Sydney is the OG, my first love and most certainly the Queen around here. At 14.5 years of age (6/17/11) she has slowed down a bit but continues to love to go for walks, routinely gets the zoomies, tolerates and entertains Cadel’s desire to wrestle with her, loves watching for dogs/cats/sheep/grinches/etc on TV and snuggling warm and cozy on the couch or bed. She was diagnosed with a heart murmur many years ago and began daily (2x daily) use of Vetmedin 2 years ago after meeting with the internal medicine specialist for a pre-surgical echocardiogram. Fortunately, during her repeat echocardiogram in Summer 2025 her results were (shockingly) improved upon from the year before to the point that the Dr didn’t feel like she needed to continue with annual evaluations unless something significant changes given her age and the lack of progression of her heart disease. Sydney has been with me since she was ~7 weeks old and has seen me thru literally EVERYTHING life can throw at you…marriage, divorce, the loss of my dad, job changes with different hours and routines that go with them, 7 moves and a stint spent in hotels and travel trailers and has taken it all in stride. On one hand I’d like to say she’s the easiest going of the pack since she has taken everything life has handed us with a smile BUT she is also the most opinionated and bossiest of the group and has demonstrated a healthy dose of “too smart for her own good” mischief over the years.
| SYDNEY’S LIKES | SYDNEY’S DISLIKES |
| Going for walks or road trips | Thunder |
| Beach/water access | Fireworks |
| Treats (especially loves softer cookies/meat sticks) | Being told to stop licking |
| Watching TV | Having to be patient |
| Snuggling/Sleeping and being warm and cozy | Getting brushed |
| Licking (everything) | Loud noises |
CADEL
$200
The man of the house, our blue-eyed big boy. Cadel was not planned and literally was found locally on a whim on a day when we were supposed to be on a 100 mile bike ride but the weather was cold and rainy and we bailed and found ourselves scrolling a local pet finder site. We woke up with one dog and went to bed with two without any warning! And he’s been the best impulse “purchase” ever. I had a hard time when he first came home, he was SO cute but also I felt so guilty about adding a 2nd dog even though ultimately we got him FOR Sydney. I wanted so badly for him not to choose me as his person so that my time and attention wouldn’t be so split but alas…he immediately decided I was his person and would obsess over me as soon as I came home from work. Him and Sydney hit it off from the get go and he was the most playful and goofy little puppy who loved our rabbits and was terrified of our parrot. Cadel unfortunately became a bit anxious and dog reactive at some point…I blame myself because I didn’t know what I didn’t know and didn’t support him best through those issues. However, despite his anxiety and difficulty dealing with other dogs, Cadel is the happiest, goofiest, sportiest and most eager to please pup. He may be approaching 13 years of age (3/17/2013) but he is still as athletic and busy as he ever was. Knock on wood, he is also a very healthy boy who aside from having a few feet issues over the years (easily rips his pads) has been a pretty healthy! The biggest shock since moving to Alaska for me with him was how fast and how easily he accepted Tock into the Pack. It took just under 2 years for him to accept Jip which meant 2 years of alternating nights in the bedroom, tethered places in the living room and maintaining separate spaces throughout the day. I am SO proud of him and how far he has come!
| CADEL’S LIKES | CADEL’S DISLIKES |
| Big Chuckit type soccer balls | Stranger dogs |
| Treats (any and all really) | People who stop by and don’t come say “hi” |
| Frisbees (hyperflite JAWS) | Thunder |
| Abuela | Fireworks |
| Hiking on trails away from threats of dogs/cars/etc | Getting brushed |
| Human guests and new friends (anyone to meet and get pets from) | Having to be patient/wait |
Additional Ways to Support the Pack
Gift cards to Costco, Walmart, Amazon, Cold Spot are always appreciated and helpful!
Physical gift cards or checks can be sent to:
Morgan Schutz
3875 Geist Road,
Suite E Box 196
Fairbanks, AK 99709
Digital gifts can be sent to:
morganandthewanderpack@gmail.com
Morgan and the Wanderpack 