I'm horrified and saddened by this story. My kids and I watched the Quest start last year, and I looked through my photos from that day, but I don't have one of the dogs that were in the care of J.T. Hessert. Apparently he was late starting the Quest because he didn't have a handler to help him with his dogs. If I had pictures of the dogs, I'd blog them.

There was no more news coverage of Hessert after he was withdrawn from the race, though he'd avowed to finish the route unsupported. I continued to wonder what had happened to him and the dogs with him.

What will happen to these dogs now? I'm just as worried about them in the hands of the state.

When I read the news story aloud to my kids, they were confused by the idea that anyone could just abandon the animals in their care. How can I explain something like this to a child? It's hard to find the words for it.

Rachel