HUMAN

Name: Taylor Bell

Age: 18

Occupation: Right now I am just finishing up school

Residence: Wasilla, Alaska

Years involved with Iditarod: This is my first year in Iditarod.

Iditarod Roles: I’m a part of the Pee team.

Current Location: McGrath, Alaska

Date of Photo: March 9, 2022

Temperature: 32F Outdoors & Snowing

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

I first became involved with the Iditarod from working at Big Lake Animal Hospital. I was a veterinary assistant and the lead technician got me involved. Big Lake deals primarily with a lot of mushers that come in. So I got to work with the dogs and I really became interested in working with the Iditarod.

What is your Why? Why are you here TODAY and involved with the Iditarod?

I am here today, involved with the Iditarod because of Lauren Bender, the lead technician over at Big Lake Animal Hospital. She has given me a lot of information and a lot of motivation to actually be involved in the Iditarod. This is her fourth year and she is a part of the Pee team. So that is the same team that I’m involved in.

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

One of the most memorable Iditarod experiences was just meeting with all the mushers and seeing how they’re doing throughout the trail. It’s very interesting to see them come up on the checkpoint and you greet all the dogs coming in.

What in life do you know for sure?

What I know for sure in life is that I definitely prefer dogs over people. I think that dogs, I mean they never lie. They’re always very innocent and they’re just full of life most of the time.