The Sun
Sunnyvale's Newspaper

Dog days of summer begin on Alaska bike trek

By Justin Berton

Shiba, a four-legged, 85-pound black Labrador mix from Sunnyvale, will become one of the only dogs in the great history of dogdom to ride a bike from Seattle, Wash., to San Jose this summer.

Of course, Shiba's owners, sisters Liana and Michelle Fisher, will be the ones turning the pedals.

The Fishers left their Sunnyvale home June 22 to begin a 3,700-mile bike trek called "Pedal for Paws" with hopes of raising up to $10,000 for Companion Animal Rescue Effort (CARE), a nonprofit organization dedicated to rescuing abandoned and unwanted dogs and cats.

The sisters will begin in Anchorage, Alaska, then work down to Seattle, where they will meet with rider Steve Vergano and Shiba.

Vergano spent three months and went through three prototypes building the special trailer that will carry Shiba from the Emerald City to Silicon Valley.

Liana Fisher said Shiba enjoys about four hours of riding, and then after that, she's ready to do some of her own exercise: run around and be wild.

"After four hours, it gets harder to get her back in," Liana said.

The idea first came up in 1997 when Michelle felt the urge to explore Alaska by bicycle. Michelle has ridden cross country and she was looking for a new adventure. Liana had ridden 100 miles in a day, and once rode the Death Ride, a grueling 130-mile, one-day ride through the mountains near Lake Tahoe.

Soon after, the plan to bring Shiba along and ride--and for a cause--fell into place. The sisters plan to ride 50 miles a day, a pace they say will allow them to make it a casual ride for every person and animal involved.

The sisters will take turns pulling the dog on a bike that, with full bags, weighs more than 200 pounds.

"It's a challenge," Michelle said.

The Fishers won't be taking Shiba from Alaska through Canada for one simple reason: "Bears, bears, bears," Michelle said.

Getting sponsors for the ride also proved challenging. CARE was the only animal-affiliated organization to back the ride, Michelle said.

"The Humane Society is so conservative, they didn't want their name attached to anything that has the remote chance [of causing harm]," Michelle added.

During one of the training runs a few weeks ago in one of the prototypes, Shiba and Liana took a slight tumble when Shiba quickly shifted her weight and shook the bike sideways.

Since then, the new trailer has been fitted with a roll bar and shimmy-proof alignment.

Also in the trailer will be a spillproof doggie bowl for water and a plentiful supply of Shiba's favorite treats: pig hooves and veggie dog cookies.

"She's not a vegetarian by choice, but because she breaks out in a rash if she has meat," Michelle said.

Along the way, Shiba will get to meet new friends and hopefully, the sisters said, raise money for a good cause.

"We're such animal lovers," Liana said, shaking her head.

It will be eight weeks before the sisters meet up with Shiba in Seattle and get a chance to see their dog again.

And lately, Shiba has been a little depressed, the Fishers said. Shiba has taken notice that her owners are packing bags, making plans, and getting ready to go somewhere where dogs are not allowed.

"She knows something is going on," Liana said. "She just doesn't know she's going with us."

The Fishers have set up a Web site for those interested in trip updates. A "welcome home" party is planned Sept. 12 at noon at Town & Country Village, 2980 Stevens Creek Blvd., San Jose.

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This article appeared in the Sunnyvale Sun, June 24, 1998.
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