Rosewood Balto Kodelle
(more commonly known as Rosa)

....R....

Born the eldest of Kodi and Dusty's first litter, Rosa stayed in Nome while her siblings found homes in other towns - she was known as the 'Easter Child'. She was very close to her aunts Chilla, Saba and Aleu, and her sister-of-the-next-litter, Hoona.

She was bought by a friend of her parents' owner Mr Simpson, a Mr Frank Hughs who owned the West-Nome Racing Kennels. He had plans to use Rose as the lead dog of his team, knowing her bloodlines as Balto's grandchild, and her reputation for being quite 'lucky'. However, despite being good at leading, Rosa didn't like the job, didn't want it, and refused to obey orders when placed at the head of Hughs' team, struggling until she was unharnessed or given a different spot. Mr Frank Hughs was frustrated at this problem. For many weeks he waited until, perhaps, Rosa changed her mind about leading, but that never happened. He began to view her as rather 'un-lucky', whatever people said about her.

Then Hughs discovered the friendship between Rosa and Ripple.

Ripple was a small, skinny, timid female husky that Hughs had been meaning to get rid of, as she was no good for sledding. She was very submissive, and although scared of all the other dogs at the West-Nome Racing Kennels, she liked to follow Rosa about and appeared to listen to Rosa's every command.

Hughs had a notion he thought was a bit crazy; he placed Ripple first in line as lead dog.
Rosa was harnessed - not quite behind her friend; in fact, at her flank - as a swing dog.

As Hughs had hoped, Rosa, comfortable when not at the head of the team, helped Ripple out, giving all the necessary instructions. Thus there were really two lead dogs instead of one, and all was well. Both Rosa and Ripple helped Hughs win many races.

Rosa became mates with Wood, a dog working at Nome harbour pulling freight, and they had many puppies. Later, she joined him as a member of his freight team (Mr Hughs, with Ripple now his personal pet, became the freight team owner), and she worked at the harbour until the end of her days.