HUMAN

Name: Ronnel Palmer
Age: 38
Residence: Red Deer, Alberta
Occupation: Registered Veterinary Technologist

Years involved with Iditarod: This is my first year with Iditarod.
Iditarod Role: EKG clinic
Current Location: Iditarod Race headquarters, Wasilla, Alaska
Date of Photo: March 4, 2020
Temperature: –4 F outside

What, who or how and when did you first get involved with the Iditarod?

I got involved with Iditarod, I guess, well, this year technically, but last year one of the mushers came to our clinic for some breeding work, and I run our reproduction department. The more I do with breeding and learning about the dogs, the more interest I find, and I found this very intriguing, so I asked Jason Campo if the Iditarod took volunteers and how to be a part of that. So he put in a good word for myself, and here I am.

What is your Why?.. Why are you here today and involved in Iditarod?

I am here today at the Iditarod because, well, I love dogs. I love what I do and the more interest or the more information I can get for my career, the more exciting I find it. I just love to continuously learn and experience new things.

Tell me about just one of your most memorable Iditarod experiences?

What I know for sure in life is, dogs are amazing. They never cease to show us what they can do and just how much a part of their lives and pure love and joy they have for humans and just the human-animal bond is amazing.To date, one of my most memorable experiences, I guess, is just everything. Just feeling the atmosphere, connecting with new people, seeing how everything comes together. I’m really looking forward to seeing the beginning of the race. I haven’t got there yet, but everything’s just been wonderful.

What do you know for sure?:

What I know for sure in life is, dogs are amazing. They never cease to show us what they can do and just how much a part of their lives and pure love and joy they have for humans and just the human-animal bond is amazing.