Comments on: Despite 3 deaths, Iditarod likely to continue http://www.ohmidog.com/2009/03/19/despite-3-deaths-iditarod-likely-to-continue/ a site for dog lovers Sun, 21 Mar 2010 02:33:27 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: Eighteenpaws http://www.ohmidog.com/2009/03/19/despite-3-deaths-iditarod-likely-to-continue/comment-page-1/#comment-981 Eighteenpaws Thu, 19 Mar 2009 20:20:52 +0000 http://www.ohmidog.com/?p=6777#comment-981 The history and spirit of this "sport," if that remains necessary to many people, can be preserved by instilling much stricter regulations such as substantially shortened courses, imposed delays during extreme weather events, and intense scrutiny by objective professionals throughout the lives and training of these pups and dogs who are bred rampantly in puppy mills for their bulk and pelage. One more breed for humans to subvert! One more breed that is being designed for fast, short, ailment-prone lives! I personally will enjoy seeing the Iditarod dissolve entirely, and certainly along with dog racing, but I try to understand those who truly believe in the "sport" and love of this event. Mushing Huskies for a mile or two in beautiful Duluth, Minnesota reveals thrills for both the eager dogs and their sled riders. I have a Husky myself and have observed and understand her desire of "working" for me, despite that I never ask that of her. The "I" is a cruel endurance in exchange for a paltry purse and sorrowful bragging rights. No animal should suffer for human enjoyment, period. How can anyone justify this is beyond my belief. The history and spirit of this “sport,” if that remains necessary to many people, can be preserved by instilling much stricter regulations such as substantially shortened courses, imposed delays during extreme weather events, and intense scrutiny by objective professionals throughout the lives and training of these pups and dogs who are bred rampantly in puppy mills for their bulk and pelage. One more breed for humans to subvert! One more breed that is being designed for fast, short, ailment-prone lives! I personally will enjoy seeing the Iditarod dissolve entirely, and certainly along with dog racing, but I try to understand those who truly believe in the “sport” and love of this event. Mushing Huskies for a mile or two in beautiful Duluth, Minnesota reveals thrills for both the eager dogs and their sled riders. I have a Husky myself and have observed and understand her desire of “working” for me, despite that I never ask that of her. The “I” is a cruel endurance in exchange for a paltry purse and sorrowful bragging rights. No animal should suffer for human enjoyment, period. How can anyone justify this is beyond my belief.

]]> By: SledDogAction http://www.ohmidog.com/2009/03/19/despite-3-deaths-iditarod-likely-to-continue/comment-page-1/#comment-980 SledDogAction Thu, 19 Mar 2009 18:26:02 +0000 http://www.ohmidog.com/?p=6777#comment-980 The Iditarod tells people that eterinarians keep the dogs healthy, but far too often that's not true. During the race, veterinarians do not give dogs physical exams at every checkpoint. Mushers speed through many checkpoints, so the dogs get the briefest visual checks, if that. Instead of pulling sick dogs from the race, veterinarians frequently give them massive doses of antibiotics to keep them running. There's a documented history of veterinarians not pulling sick dogs from the race and ignoring the symptoms of dying dogs. The veterinary staff even gave its Humanitarian Award to a musher who raced his dogs for four days despite the fact that all of them had diarrhea. For more information, go to http://www.helpsleddogs.org/remarks-poorvetcare.htm and to http://www.helpsleddogs.org/vetinfo.htm . Margery Glickman Sled Dog Action Coalition, http://www.helpsleddogs.org The Iditarod tells people that eterinarians keep the dogs healthy, but far too often that’s not true. During the race,
veterinarians do not give dogs physical exams at every checkpoint. Mushers speed through many checkpoints, so the dogs get the briefest visual checks, if that. Instead of pulling sick dogs from the race, veterinarians frequently give them massive doses of antibiotics to keep
them running. There’s a documented history of veterinarians not pulling sick dogs from the race and ignoring the symptoms of dying dogs. The veterinary staff even gave its Humanitarian Award to a musher who raced his dogs for four days despite the fact that all of them had diarrhea.
For more information, go to
http://www.helpsleddogs.org/remarks-poorvetcare.htm and to
http://www.helpsleddogs.org/vetinfo.htm .

Margery Glickman
Sled Dog Action Coalition, http://www.helpsleddogs.org

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