By Angelica Ingram

Published Jan. 31 2017

The 2017 Winter Sleddog World Championship at Haliburton Forest and Wild Life Reserve this past week and weekend brought extra dollars to some local businesses.
Businesses throughout the county have seen team members in their operations whether it be a grocery store accommodation provider or hardware shop.

Chad Burden of the West Guilford Shopping Centre said he has seen an increase in traffic since the races began and that sales are up by about 10 per cent compared to this time last year.
“It has been busier here” he said. “And I believe it’s from that [the dog races]. They’re all younger athletes that have come in with their gear on.”
Burden said the athletes have been buying one thing in particular in a large quantity: cans of tuna.
“To feed their dogs. Apparently they put it in the water” he said.
He’s been happy with the impact and believes many of the race spectators have also stopped into the store.

Walker’s Home Hardware owner Jerry Walker said he has also had some athletes from European countries into the store to buy materials they need for the race. In particular one athlete purchased a small axe.
“They were buying frozen meat and they needed to chop it up for the dogs” he said.
A resident of Kashagawigamog Lake Walker has also seen teams staying at Bonnie View Inn.
“I’ve seen them out in the morning walking all the dogs” he said. “I think it’s definitely a positive impact.”