Before dawn on Wednesday, between Nikolai and McGrath, Savidis stopped his team when he noticed a small tangle. When Savidis got closer, a sight that chills any musher's soul came into focus -- an empty harness and collar. Whitey was gone.

How could it happen -- especially to Whitey-Lance?

"This is very uncharacteristic behavior from my sweet, tender-hearted bud," said Rebecca Savidis, Justin's wife and a fellow musher. "Usually he is underfoot when running free at our kennel. While some of our dogs prefer belly rubs, Whitey-Lance lives for hugs.

"If I have him loose from the team on the trail, I can always call him back."

This time, though, Whitey was gone. Justin followed his dog's tracks into deep snow for as long as he could make them out. He went back and forth, back and forth with his team, hoping to spot the animal.

"He's a sweetheart of a dog," said Rebecca. The dog was already named Whitey when they purchased him from another musher; Rebecca added Lance because a musher named Lance was her mentor in the sport.

"He loves affection," she said. "That's why we think something must have spooked him enough to make him run off."

Volunteers searched. Alaska State Troopers launched an air search. Iditarod Air Force pilots joined in.

Friday afternoon, there was finally a ray of hope.

A woman said she saw a dog matching Whitey's description near the McGrath Airport. Justin and some local residents began scouring the area.

"Outside of running around with a steak in his pocket, I don't know what more he can do," Rebecca said.

Early Friday morning, Justin heard a dog that looked like Whitey had been spotted in Nikolai. He was off on a search that turned out to be fruitless.

"Today has been maddening," Rebecca said. "I am heartsick for Whitey-Lance being alone, and I can't imagine what (Justin) must be feeling now.

"I feel all prayed out today.

"I'm very scared for my dog. I love that little guy. We'll get our resources together and not stop looking. We'll figure it out."

Justin officially scratched from the race late Friday in McGrath. Race rules forbid him to compete if a dog is missing. Also, the race marshal can end any musher's race if he determines the racer isn't making sufficient progress -- and every other musher has left McGrath.

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Anyone with information about the dog can e-mail Rebecca Savidis at rsavidis@forakergroup.org.

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Reach reporter Mike Campbell at mcampbell@adn.com or 257-4329.