Accommodations can range from a tent to space in the floor of a cabin or community center. As the first teams arrive at the checkpoint the work begins and it is often at a frantic pace. Mushers are anxious to get their teams to their designated rest area and get them settled in. Straw, cooking fuel and musher supplies have to be picked-up and carried to the dogs by the musher. Water or snow is gathered and a fire is started.
Snacks are given to each dog and straw is put out for the team.
During this active time for the musher the vets spend time observing the teams as they come into the checkpoint and move to the rest area and settle in. We watch to see if each dog is bright and alert and eager to eat. Those that are not pulling and are not anxious to eat are the dogs we focus on initially. Each musher is required to carry a veterinary handbook, which is a record of each individual dog on the team. The vets record all information about the team at each checkpoint.