Photo by Photo Submitted
TOUGH LOSS – Brent Sass hugs his lead dogs Sound, left, and Basin, right, after winning last year’s Yukon Quest. Photo courtesy of ERIN CORNELIUSSEN/FAIRBANKS DAILY NEWS-MINER
2015 Quest champion mourns loss of lead dog
Brent Sass has endured his share of hardships while mushing in recent years.
Brent Sass has endured his share of hardships while mushing in recent years.
The latest is the toughest yet.
The Eureka, Alaska, musher announced today on Facebook that his lead dog, Basin, died Sunday.
The husky was four years old.
Alongside Sound, Basin led Sass to his first Yukon Quest International Sled Dog Race title last year, earning the Golden Harness award.
“There’s no easy way to share this news,” states a post on the Facebook page of Sass’s kennel, Wild and Free Mushing.
“Basin, the captain of the team, our main leader and one of my best friends, passed away on Sunday morning.
“He will be remembered most for his endless energy and tremendous love for life. RIP Basin you will be missed.”
Within 12 hours, the post had received more than 500 messages of condolences from mushing fans around the world.
Cause of Basin’s death was not announced, and Sass could not be reached by phone or email by the Star this morning.
It is not known if the news changes Sass’s status for the 2016 Yukon Quest or Iditarod.
Last year, the 36-year-old musher earned his first Yukon Quest title, passing two-time defending champion Allen Moore on the homestretch into Fairbanks, Alaska.
Sass praised Basin, who had forced his way back into lead after a demotion earlier in the race.
On Sass’s kennel’s website, Basin is described as a superstar in his bio.
At six weeks old, he arrived on the Sass homestead and was immediately dubbed “special.”
He is named after the Copper Basin 300 sled dog race after travelling the trail in a truck with Sass’s father, Mark, as a puppy.
In 2014, Basin played a key role in Sass’s stellar Yukon Quest performance that ultimately ended when the musher suffered a concussion in a fall.
Basin’s leadership in the 2015 Yukon Quest had Sass expecting the dog to be a force in his main team for years to come.
Basin did sire one litter of puppies.
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Comments (6)
Up 3 Down 1
To the first poster, "Louise" on Jan 19, 2016 at 2:26 pm
People who take the opportunity to say nasty things when someone's dog just died "Are a little...." - using your own words.
For those who do not know what this cheap shot artist said, in French, it goes something like this, " it's just a dog and not a human. Those who consider their dog like a child are a little ...."
What kind of a freak would bother to read this article and then make that comment? Takes all kinds I guess.
Up 5 Down 1
Harry Spice Josh Spice's (Father) on Jan 15, 2016 at 2:16 pm
Mr. Brent Sass,
Sorry to hear about the loss of your leader "Basin". My thoughts are with you, and hope you & Sound now "Run Wild & Free" together! Always remember: " To lose a trail mate is sad, to lose an old trailmate is sadder, to always remember ALL the fun & trail times you spent together is joyous & comforting, ALL this was Joy to his (Basin's) soul! Take Care, Harry spice
Up 21 Down 1
Carol Rickman on Jan 14, 2016 at 8:35 pm
Dear Brent,
Mark and I are so sorry for the loss of your dear Basin. Please know how much we care and that our thoughts are with you and your family. Run wild and free sweet Basin!
Up 10 Down 0
Rita on Jan 14, 2016 at 7:42 pm
I am so very sorry for your tremendous loss.
Up 15 Down 1
Louise Midkiff on Jan 14, 2016 at 1:07 am
We never get to keep those special ones long enough. But then how could we ever have them long enough? How long would ever be long enough? They'd just train more pups and grow to be more special as they grew older. All we have of them is what they left behind and their memory. Call it cool, I guess.
Up 6 Down 15
Louise on Jan 13, 2016 at 6:00 pm
Peut etre trop d entraînement intensif ne pas oublier c est juste un chien et pas un humain ceux qui considère leur chien comme un enfant sont un peu ....