Times News reporter Pat Matsinko rides a training sled pulled by Malamute siblings Yeager and Maya as their owner and trainer Brian Heft bicycles behind. BOB FORD/TIMES NEWS - Slatington, PA 
Spotlight: From rescue to sled ride
“That’s Buddy.”
With a wave and a smile, Brian Heft offers a warm introduction to one of his Malamutes.
Mild-mannered and happy to greet a new friend to the property, Buddy seems eager to please.
But it wasn’t always that way.
A once aggressive dog likely left alone too much living in an apartment in New York City, Buddy, now retired and 12 years old, has taken refuge as a rescue dog with Heft and his wife, Carolyn, of Slatington.
Heft has always loved animals, especially dogs.
“I’ve always been an outdoor person. I love ‘The Call of the Wild’ book,” said Heft. “When our kids were young, we were watching a movie called ‘Iron Will’ on the Disney Channel and we had a Malamute as a pet and the kids were interested in dog sledding. We found a harness online and it came with an invitation to join the Pennsylvania Sled Dog Club around 1994.
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