In the scorching July heat, few thoughts now go to dog sledding. But for Jim Ouimet, owner and operator of Mammoth Dog Teams, concerns have come up over his Mono County-leased facility.
Ouimet recently raised the fact that the main water line to his facility does not work. He said it froze in January from a well about 500 feet away. Now, he’s hauling water – around 50 gallons a day – for his dogs. Ouimet said, “The County came down and decided to disconnect everything.” He said now they don’t want to re-connect the line.
While officials believe Mono County has no responsibility to provide a water line, they also see the value of Mammoth Dog Teams to the local economy. Ouimet said he had called Mono Public Works for help and then received a return call from the County Counsel’s office to say Mono County does not owe Ouimet a water line. The whole issue will come up at the August 21 Mono Board meeting.
Supervisor Larry Johnston said there has been no vote but that there is a consensus on the Board to try to help Ouimet “succeed in his business. It’s a unique, iconic Eastern Sierra snow activity,” said Johnston. He said the location, which is the old Sheriff’s Sub-station outside Mammoth Lakes, is a good one. Johnston said, “We want to try to give him an opportunity to succeed.” He said he would like to see a way to hook up the water line.
Johnston also spoke of the possibility of fixing up the facility as a caretaker unit for Ouimet, including water and a restroom, since there are many expensive pieces of county-owned heavy equipment stored at the same location. Johnston said he believes housing money would be available to make minimal improvements for a caretaker unit. Ouimet, who endured a season with very little snow, hopes for a little help.
HOW can you run a business without access to running water to the building you rent? Since it was a frozen pipe that caused the problem, and we are now almost in August, SEVERAL months have passed… Towns and cities who endure natural disasters have services restored quicker! I was… Read more »
Not sure if anyone bothered to read the article, but the issue is that Jim needs help. He is leasing a property from the county where he has run his successful dog sledding business for over 9 years. It was a very warm and friendly place to visit. I even… Read more »
Lisa Schade has done more good for dogs (and cats) of the Eastern Sierra than anyone else I know. Keep up the great work, Lisa!
I can drink, smoke , blog and have sex all at once this way.
Well Trouble .. you might be in for the long haul .. Wayne and Jerry are pretty polarized on this subject. Tank up buddy. I could see it, if these dogs were really being treated badly but they are not abused in any way .. it is just some folks… Read more »
No dog is a happy dog that is tethered to a chain….period.
HAHA! Good one Wayne… unfortunately, these ARE working dogs we’re talking about (running over 1000 miles a season), not “short stop” the family chihuahua. No, these dogs don’t sleep at the foot of Jim’s bed, or eat fried eggs and ham for breakfast, or chase balls with other dogs at… Read more »
Like many hard working people in the Eastern Sierra those working dogs have been basically unemployed for over a year. The cattle dogs of the Eastern Sierra work much harder then these sled dogs and the cattle dogs work every day of the year. Under the circumstances the working dog… Read more »
No not unemployed .. c’mon .. they’re seasonal workers just like the rest of the workers in the area like Mammoth Mountain employees. LOL
Maybe Jim and work an angle to have them tow bicyclist up the hill so they can down hill it to the village for frappes or lattes. Or even tow skate boarders around. Get them some running shoes and their set!
jJerry C…..Everything you say is fine and dandy…nothing wrong with a “pack mentality” concept…my “short stop” is learning that right now….learning that Chloeno,the Cocker Spaniol is # 1 in my pack…Don’t got a wood stove for them to sit in front of,but working with my landlord on that one come… Read more »
LOL. Keep up the good work Wayne! Your doing the community a tremendous favor by trying to get Jim into trouble with the County. You’re a GREAT American – and saving the sled dogs from a life of misery is just a bonus! Who knows, maybe if you’re lucky the… Read more »
By breaking the law,sounds like Jim is getting Jim in trouble,don’t you think ? ..”.Wayne and Lisa..Sled Dog Saviors”…sounds good to me….AND to the sled dogs……
Like Alcoholics Anonymous, nobody is forced to supply their real name on this blog for fear of …
a. appearing civil
b. appearing loosely wrapped
c. getting voted out of office
d. fill in the blank
LOL it really makes me laugh .. some get so interested in who it is that post here and feel they have to know . as one poster said .. some fear that they will be retaliated upon by others if they were known for their comments here, and there… Read more »
Big,
I’m not so sure it is some sort of intense interest in who does the posting.
Seems to me when somebody does post their real, authentic name, this automatically creates a situation of a more civil and well-thought out posting in lieu of a no-holds barred, give-em-hell kind.
The right to free speech is alive and well in the Eastern Sierra’s today . Sorry you all don’t like that idea.
Yeah, “Big Al.”
Quit hiding and give us your REAL name.
Big Al has given us his real name in the past.
Benett
I think it’s interesting that me and Benett are the only two posters who use our real names. I wonder how vocal everyone would be if they weren’t hiding behind fake posting names. Just sayin’ ….
Lisa… I can admire the fact that you use your real name. Are you looking for a medal of bravery or something? We can care less….really. Not sure if you noticed, but this is an internet news site. I can appreciate the anonymity of it all, why can’t you? Did… Read more »
Lisa, Try listening to what is being said and not who is saying it. It really is none of your business or very important who says what, why, when or who. You don’t have to agree or even read what anyone writes. Most folks from a company owned town know… Read more »
hummm…
Amen Dingo .. they don’t like the barking dog .. get them out of the neighborhood … put them somewhere where we don’t have to hear them .. but .. ohh they are so precious .. we can’t stand to see them abused .. no Some of the same people… Read more »
So all you aghast whiners out there who let their dogs sleep in bed with them feel that Jim’s WORKING dogs should sleep with him too! Reread Bennett’s post about the study and then go get a Life! His dogs are content, well taken care of and it is absurd… Read more »
OMG Greg, KUDOS to you this is absolutely the truth, and I do sleep with one of my dogs, but I wouldn’t want 40 huskies crawlin in there, I have always said that this didn’t make sense if those dogs didn’t get exercise and lots of it, they couldn’t pull… Read more »
Some people do not understand as you say just one … what these dogs do and the world of dog sledding .. they make Jim Ouimet and others like him out to be some sort of monsters .. oh the humanity in it all .. I mean … even the… Read more »
Greg- I agree with you almost in full, just don’t try to cut in on my wave dude.
What a shame shame shame, so much land in our area and there is no room to house 40 sled dogs. Jim needs more space and/or a building. Maybe the County could rent him the animal shelter building on Benton Crossing Road if it closes, allowing Jim to comply with… Read more »
Great comment Dingo! Lots of good ideas there! I agree 110%!
For years the Town of ML and Mono County put these Sled Dogs on the face of our marketing campaigns exploiting every drop they could. It is unconscionable that the Bureaucrats now abandon them as they mature. Is that how we treat our family? I thought Mono County honored it’s… Read more »
We had a water pipe freeze several years ago. I turned the main valve off, got a shovel, dug down to it, thawed the ground around it with a *weed burner as I dug, and then, REPAIRED IT. After that, I turned the main valve back on and the water… Read more »
Was it your property? cause I would be willing to bet you that if Jim started digging up county property and doing his own repairs Rita Sherman “risk management” would have some issues with it. His hands are fairly tied because of county Bull
Mammoth creek is right behind the substation. Why not take water from there. I’m sure that LADWP won’t mind!
What can we do to help Jim?
Write letters to the county? Get some volunteers to help fix the water line?
I’m sure there are many of us that are ready and willing to help 🙂
The road to Mammoth Driving to Mammoth just past those ugly airport hangers is the old sub station road; Don’t turn there! The inequity and Inhumanity of mankind is chained to boxes in the sun and heat (without water) like the slavers of the past and will turn your stomach… Read more »
FYI, the dogs do have water. Jim Ouimet is hauling it from the well 500 feet away on a daily
basis.
Benett
Learn to read…
I’m saddened that Mono County continues to allow Ouimet to chain his dogs, in direct violation of the law (Senate Bill 1578 enacted January 1, 2007), and he does it on Mono County land, no less! Sled dogs are not exempt from this law (they are NOT working/herding dogs and… Read more »
Lisa, Thought you might be interested in a study done at Cornell. These veterinarians are saying the jury is still out on what’s best for sled dogs. Here’s the name of the study and their conclusion: A Comparison of Tethering and Pen Confinement of Dogs Seong C. Yeon, Glen Golden,… Read more »
I could bring up studies that challange just about any law.
The fact is you either drive the speed limit or you get a citation.
Benett, Ouimet is in violation of State law!
Hey Mark, If you are so concerened, go to Home Depot with about 10k in your pocket, buy the materials and build some pens for Ouimet who is still suffering financially from last winter.
It’s amazing how the residence of Mono County pick and choose which laws they’ll follow and which ones they won’t. It’s not ok to tear out road closed barriers but it’s entirely ok to abuse animals if your business is hurting. Who exactly is in charge of deciding which laws… Read more »
Road closures are Forest Service
Benett – The law is the law. Sure there are bad laws. If a law is bad, it is up to the people to change that law, not ignore it because one study indicates the law might be a bad law. It is against the law in California to chain… Read more »
Yes, the law is the law. I believe it is also against the law to take possession of people’s pets without their permission. It might also possibly be against the law to create a workplace rule that does not allow pets to run loose at the office, then ignore your… Read more »
Ted….I think what it is …if you live….and have a business that brings in tourist dollars in Mammoth Lakes,you get to pick and choose the laws that others in the state of California have to follow…What gets me is this Quimet was told OVER 2 YEARS AGO that he was… Read more »
Although these dogs are not working in the summer Alaskan Malamutes and Siberian Huskys ARE working breeds and they work their butts off in a normal winter. Make no mistake THEY ARE working dogs. However, I would like to see them UN teathered and interacting with each other when not… Read more »
just run a line from the airport…everything over there is FREE
Now here someone that really needs a”mobility” subsidy Rusty!