A man who won't die for something is not fit to live.
Martin Luther King, Jr.

➨Name: Scopes

➨Nickname: Mr. Scopes

➨Occupation: Retired/Sled Dog

➨Age: 9 years old

➨Gender: ♂

➨Personality: Compassionate, prideful, but at the end he wants to do right by his family.

➨Home: None, Alaska

➨Parents: ???

➨Friends: ???

➨Owner: The Snell Family

♞_____________________________________________ ♞

Background: (Year 1-3) Scopes was born of a litter of purebreeds, being sold at roughly $25 dollars at the time, he was bought by a man named Mr. Snell. Scopes was mainly used for sledding, as Mr. Snell did atempt to become a musher, for many years he countuined on until they had a accident. This was when the sled broke due to a rot, Mr. Snell fell to the ground, rolling down a hill. He severly injured his shoulder, cutting his career as a musher to a sad end. Not able to provide for his family, Mr. Snell's brother started to borrow Scopes for his friend's sled team. Noteablly, the team that Steel would soon lead. 

During this reign, which lasted 2 years (3-5), Scopes was the lead dog. The Snell family was growing as Mrs. Snell was expecting within a few months. Mr. Snell earned a job as a employee in a small furinature carving store. His boss was indeed a part of their family, he was Mr. Snell's uncle. 

This arrangement made with Mr. Snell's brother was a good deal, while Mr. Snell's brother had his own family, Mr. Snell was given a percentage of the earnings since his dog was the lead dog. Then Steele came. 

Every couple of months, Mr. Snell's brother would race the dogs to see where they were best placed, and a newcommer to Nome asked to test his dog, Steele. During the race, Scopes and Steele were neck and neck, while Scopes started to gain the lead, Steele suddenly bit into Scopes's shoulder, causing the husky to tumble over in the road. 

Sadly, as the baby was due, and as Steele took Scopes's job, the money was tight. Mr.Snell didn't have a great background in medical treatment, luckily he befriended the town doctor when he delievered mail back in the day, so they did what they could. 

Luckily, Scopes healed, however slowly. Mr. Snell's brother managed to get Scopes as a dog, however not as a lead dog. Scopes's pride was injured as his failing caused his human family to have less money, as being the lead dog entilted to more money. 

Scopes disliked Steele intensely, and one day when they were destrapped from their harness, Scopes jumped on Steele and started to attack him. The people nearby managed to end the fight before the dogs were injured, however to avoid having their dog removed from the team, Mr. Snell had scopes neutered. Shortly after the twins came into the Snell family. Mrs. Snell named them Ruth and Helen. (Year 3) 

♞________________________________♞

(5-8) 

Scopes didn't have much to do in the summer, so he would spend most of his time playing with the toddlers. Mrs. Snell was busy as a teacher for a local school, and Mr. Snell would work all day, so Scopes was alone with them sometimes. (When Mr. Snell's uncle or brother wasn't avaliable, this was rare however.) 

One day they were playing in an alley when a WolfDog sulked into the alley. Scopes, despite being calmer after his neutering, immediately jumped in front of the twins and chased the wolfdog off. 

When winter came and the dogs were raced to see where they would be placed, Mr. Snell's brother noticed something was wrong with Scopes. Scopes would bunny hop, or known as the dog use both hind legs together, rather than one at a time.

This occurs when the dog is running, or going up stairs. Scopes also showed signs of "Sway walk", this is when the dog is walking, the back end sways back and forth because the hips are loose.

These are early signs of Hip dysplasia, which is an abnormal formation of the hip socket that, in its more severe form, can eventually cause crippling lameness and painful arthritis of the joints.

Scopes was immediately removed from the team. 

As time went on, the girls, Ruth and Helen countuined to play with "Mr.Scopes", they formed a close bond despite Scopes's shift from a working dog to a family dog. Despite his easy life, his symptons increased in pain. However he was still active and playful. 

(8-9)
♞__________________________♞

When the diphtheria epidemic (an upper respiratory tract illness caused a facultative anaerobic, It's characterized by sore throat, low fever, and an adherent membrane.) attacked, little Helen died before she could be saved by the antitoxin.

Scopes blamed himself for Helen's death. For the first few days he refused to move from Helen's bed, not even to eat. He would lay his head on a bandanna Helen made for him, a dark blue thing that had a childish "MR. SCOPES" sewn on it.

When push came to shove, Scopes would save Ruth at all costs. He felt it would be the most important thing he would do for his family, despite his pain he would suffer through it.

He met privately with Blackie,  "Wild Bill" Shannon's lead dog. Shannon was the first musher who was handed the first package at the train station in Nevana on January 27. Blackie heard Scopes's case and was moved by Scopes's passion to help them save those infected by the diptheria epidemic. 

He did partake in the first run, during the run Scopes felt at one with the cause. He had already "said his goodbyes" to his human family in his own way, he left his bandanna in Ruth's bed before he was leashed up for the sled.

Sadly as the tempature dropped -50F, Shannon dropped 3 dogs. Scopes was one of the dogs dropped.

Despite Shannon returning for the abanoned dogs Scopes died shortly after.

†____________________†

 He was buried in the backyard his family owned.

Scopes had no regreat about his death, he knew he helped save Ruth from dying, and that's all that mattered to him. 

Resources

Lineart and design + Picture: Kelsey the Zombie

Diphtheria information: Wikipedia

1925 Serum run: Wikipedia

Hip Displasia information: Donated to me by Paxis

FAQ's: (about premissions) 

✓ : May I make a gift art of him?  

✓: May I render him for you? (Steele base would be best) 

✓ Can I draw him? 

∅ May I do something with him and NOT show the finish product to you? 

∅ May I use the lineart or copy the design? (You have to ask Kelsey! As for design, I'd rather you not copy it!) 

∅ May I use the design but alter it lightly? 

∅ Can I make him a crush? 

∅ Can I make him a mate?

∅ Do you read my PM's?

∅ Do you like me?

✓ Do you bite when I annoy you?