Iditarod DANGEROUS TO DOGS!

[Alysser]

I've found a few websites with horrible and very sad information. I loved the Iditarod until now. I never knew that! I feel so guilty. I am NOT saying ANY dog sled team on PT is like this. I know PT's dogs are VERY well loved. Here:
http://www.peta.org/mc/factsheet_display.asp?ID=130
http://www.helpsleddogs.org/faq.htm
http://www.hsus.org/pets/issues_affecting_our_pets/facts_about_the_iditarod.html

[K9soul]

http://petoftheday.com/talk/showthread.php?threadid=45833

http://petoftheday.com/talk/showthread.php?t=47706

http://petoftheday.com/talk/showthread.php?s=&threadid=73178

http://petoftheday.com/talk/showthread.php?t=73240

Just a few of the many threads where this has been hashed over.

[CagneyDog]

Any dog sport has its dangers. I didn't even bother looking at the websites, I have a feeling most of the information isn't correct.

[Suki Wingy]

do not EVER trust peta.

[caseysmom]

The only thing I know about this is from Glacier and her dogs are treated very well...and I don't trust peta either.

[Suki Wingy]

I don't trush HSUS either, they want the obly pets to be dogs and cats, that means NO Oslo and NO Tigger and NO snakes or rats for my dad.
edit: see. http://www.hsus.org/pets/issues_affecting_our_pets/Reptiles_as_Pets.html

[Glacier]

All of those are extra-ordinarily biased websites from groups who think all forms of dog sport should be banned. For the other side of the story check out http://sunhusky.com/Facts/ Perhaps slightly biased to the positive side, but certainly a more balanced perspective than anything on the sights you posted.

Helpsleddogs one is run by an absolute wingnut who lives in Florida, has never been to a dog sled race, never been to a working kennel, never had anything to do with a husky, but thinks she should be able to tell me how to live my life. I know several top racing mushers who have invited her to their kennels and one who even offered to pay her way to the I-rod last year. She refused. Can't continue her cause if she knows the truth. I won't even type what I think she can do or where she can go.

In any animal sport, you will find the odd bad competitor, mushing is no exception--neither is greyhound racing, horse racing, agility, flyball or showing dogs. The bad ones are everywhere. Look at some of today's threads--there are those who could be seen as bad owners on this board.

This crap makes me livid and I won't be replying to this thread beyond this. Sigh, I expect my ignore list will be growing again!

[lv4dogs]

I don't trust a lot of that info (peta, hsus, and the fact that glacier brought up, Helpsleddogs has no experience with this sort of thing).

No matter what you do there is always a chance. Weather people or pets die of natural causes, accidents or on purpose, there is ALWAYS a chance of death no matter what you do, really. People accidently fall down the stair & die, people get in car accidents & die, the list goes on & on & on. I personally would rather die doing something I enjoy.

Have you ever seen a sled dog when they get ready to go? They are HAPPY! They LOVE doing it.

[pnance]

No matter what you do there is always a chance. Weather people or pets die of natural causes, accidents or on purpose, there is ALWAYS a chance of death no matter what you do, really. People accidently fall down the stair & die, people get in car accidents & die, the list goes on & on & on. I personally would rather die doing something I enjoy.

Have you ever seen a sled dog when they get ready to go? They are HAPPY! They LOVE doing it.

Well said!!

This is what these dogs are born and bred to do, it's what they love and keeps them active and stimulated. I confess to never having a husky but I'm guessing like any other working breed a bored husky is a destructive husky, sleding keeps them active and stimulated. Glaciers right there will always be bad competitors, but that's not limited to sleding, you'll find that in any sport whether human or canine.

[pitc9]

Just as in anything and everything in this world, there are bad people.

There are bad breeders that give other breeders a bad rap, there are bad shelters that give other shelters a bad rap and there are bad mushers that give other mushers a bad rap.
We know all to well that there are good Breeders, Shelters and MOST importantly there are GREAT Mushers!!! :D

[Alysser]

Yeah, I know about PETA. Those people ARE NUTS. Thecy throw paint on fur coats. Its crazy!

[Lady's Human]

Okay, now I'm confused. You say PETA people are nuts, but then you include one of their links in your rant against the Iditarod? Help me out here.

[CagneyDog]

Okay, now I'm confused. You say PETA people are nuts, but then you include one of their links in your rant against the Iditarod? Help me out here.

Thats what I was wondering?
:confused: