The Iditarod

[Shantidog]

Hello everyone....I know that the Iditarod race has begun in Alaska....and my heart goes out to these poor dogs who must run their hearts out because of their owners greed. I have been to a couple and watching those dogs come in over the finish line is not a pretty sight...some of them just literally drag themselves over! Please click on this link to get more information about this infamous race.www.helpsleddogs.org

[rebeccarichardson]

As a lifelong animal lover with one rescue dog [Aussie Cattle Dog] and three cats, I just don't understand how people can think the Iditarod is a humane sport..........
I agree that it is tortuous for dogs and driven by greed and ego by uncaring humans.

Hooray for you for speaking out about this--I couldn't agree more.

Jasmine's mom

[Corinna]

Didn't we go though this on my thread you and your bogus info on your page . Having nnever gone at the inviatation of many mushers. How can you make thes claims on your site. Stop being an inposter admit just who you are Shanti dog!!!!

[sammy101]

http://petoftheday.com/talk/showthre...threadid=73178

agree'd with you Corinna!

[Corinna]

Thanks Sammy your faster at finding it than I was.

[rebeccarichardson]

Someone inform me of what's going on here, please?
I genuinely think the iditorad can push dogs beyond their limit in the mushers quest to win?
Is this incorrect?

I'd like to know if i'm misinformed or naive?

Rebecca

[Corinna]

Read the thread in sammy1's post pay close attention to Glaciers post. she has over 20 sled dogs.

[Shantidog]

No Rebecca...you are not misinformed...the Iditarod or more commonly known as "I killed a dog" where mushers who are out for the money alone...will push their dogs until death. They can always go out and buy another dog team can't they. I have been there at the finish line. I lived in the Yukon for many years, and have seen a lot of dog abuse at the hand of mushers.. Anyone who says it is normal ofr a dog to run that far, and at that speed for that long...should be made to run at the end of a whip like these dogs do. The picture of the sled dog who lies dead. and which has been dragged along for many miles. is a real picture. This is my own personal opinion, and based on what I have heard first hand. My brother-in-law was in the 1992 race, and he saw things in that race that were not right. There are two sides to every story, and unless you get your facts straight everyone...do not say that this is a fun thing for the dogs to do!! How ridiculous!!

[rebeccarichardson]

I'm a newcomer to this forum, and I may not know what I'm talking about because I don't have sled dogs, live in Alaska or other places where sledding is possible, nor have I ever attended the Iditarod.........but it seems to me that just coming from a point of view of human's track record when it comes to using animals to do things that they wouldn't do naturally like rodeos, circuses, dog racing in a track, and maybe even the Iditarod, isn't it possible that they CAN be abused in the name of $$$$ and entertainment???

Isn't the check points for the dogs in the Iditarod race usually so quick that health problems could be missed?

When the mushers aren't racing their dogs [or training] aren't the dogs chained to their dog houses and ignored??

I'm not trying to sound like an idiot here. "Tell me there are NO dog abuses in the Iditarod and you won't here another peep from me. All I care about is the welfare and treatment of ALL animals--whether it's a house dog like mine or a dog who is strapped to a harness and raced.

[Cincy'sMom]

I am very uneduated about the Iditarod, dog racing, etc., but I have a few thoughts...

First, I'm sure there are some dogs that are mistreated. It is true if the dogs are pets, show dogs, or athletes. I don't think in any situation, anyone can say, that every dog owner is the perfect dog owner, and treats their dogs perfectly....but I hope, and want to believe it is the exception, not the rule.

I also don't believe that mushers tie their dogs up and ignore them if they aren't racing. Do a seach for Glacier's posts, and check out her sled dogs. See if they aren't some of the happiest, well cared for dogs around....laying on the couch, enjoying arun, whatever...they ALWAYS seem to be enjoying life.

All of us here care about the welfare of animals, or we wouldn't be here....I just think it is better not to make genrealiations, positive or negative. There will always be exceptions.

[Glacier]

Originally posted by rebeccarichardson
I'm a newcomer to this forum, and I may not know what I'm talking about because I don't have sled dogs, live in Alaska or other places where sledding is possible, nor have I ever attended the Iditarod.........but it seems to me that just coming from a point of view of human's track record when it comes to using animals to do things that they wouldn't do naturally like rodeos, circuses, dog racing in a track, and maybe even the Iditarod, isn't it possible that they CAN be abused in the name of $$$$ and entertainment???

Isn't the check points for the dogs in the Iditarod race usually so quick that health problems could be missed?

When the mushers aren't racing their dogs [or training] aren't the dogs chained to their dog houses and ignored??

I'm not trying to sound like an idiot here. "Tell me there are NO dog abuses in the Iditarod and you won't here another peep from me. All I care about is the welfare and treatment of ALL animals--whether it's a house dog like mine or a dog who is strapped to a harness and raced.

I'll try to answer some of your questions. I do live in the Far North--not Alaska, but I could drive to Alaska in under 2 hours! I do keep a dog sled team and I have plans to race someday (not long distance, but shorter, close to home races)

It is absolutely possible that some sled dogs are abused. I'll guarentee it. Several of my sled dogs orginally lived in bad situations. I know far more good, kind, mushers than I do bad, abusive ones. Look close enough at any sport--horse racing, equistrian events, flyball, agility, whatever, and you'll find abusive owners who have no right to own goldfish! Same thing with dog sledding. But like any sport that involves animals, I believe that's the exception to the rule.

However, there is no way to force a dog to run and pull. If a dog doesn't want to run, it simply won't! There have been days when my dogs have been tired or bored or just in a bad mood and we have spent hours sitting on the side of a trail, waiting until they felt like running again. A scared dog won't work for the person it's afraid of.

Check points in the Iditarod can be very quick, but at every stop, every time each dog is inspected by a vet. A musher can not leave the check point until the vet says it's ok. Any musher who disobeys a vet's order is immediately disqualified. Any dog showing signs of distress must be dropped. Unfortunately, dogs are dang good at hiding illness and pain so sometimes things might be missed. Yes, dogs die in the Iditarod. In this year's race three dogs died, all of natural causes, not through any abuse by their musher. 80 teams started the race with 16 dogs per team. That's over 1200 dogs. Put 1200 pet dogs together for ten days, I'll guarentee you at least three of them will die for one reason or another.

Yes, most sled dogs are kept on chains, but no they are not ignored when they aren't racing. They get regular time loose. Most mushers have a play yard or an exercise pen where the dogs go just to goof off every day. To do any kind of racing, but especially the big ones, takes hours of training, dog care, ect EVERY DAY ALL YEAR. Most sled dogs see far more of their owner than lots of pet dogs do. It's much easier to throw a single pet dog into the back yard and ignore it for ten years. If you want a dog team to take 1000 miles in ten days, you better have an amazing bond with those dogs.

Additionally, there is no money in dog sled racing! Even for the guy who won the I-rod this year, he didn't make much. The prize is a substantial sum, but consider what it costs him to keep a dog team for a year. Most big racing mushers have 50 dogs or more in their kennel. I don't know any musher who doesn't feed a top end kibble and supplements with meat. I have 21 dogs in my kennel and my food bill is thousands of dollars a year. Then add in vet bills , harnesses, equipement repairs ( a basic sled new is worth 1200$), travel, dog truck, houses, bowls, ect, ect. In the end, Robert Sorlie (this year's winner) probably made next to nothing! Most mushers have day jobs to keep their teams. I know I have to work full time to pay their bills!

Sled dogs are trained their whole lives to run. There are thousands of years of breeding behind that urge to pull. To ask an untrained dog to race would be creul. To ask a sled dog not to pull, would be equally creul! This is what they were born to do, what they love and what they do best.

This is my team getting ready to take a customer out for a tour. Do they look unhappy to you?

For more information, please check out
www.sunhusky.com/facts
I hope that was helpful.

[rebeccarichardson]

Thanks "Glacier" that was very insightful. I appreciate you taking the time to explain the life of a dog sledding. It sounds like you are very compassionate and caring towards your dogs.

I guess I have a clearer picture. But as far as S.Husky's[is that the breed?] being "born to run"........ one must still be careful...
My dog is an Australian Cattle Dog who is hard wired to herd and chase balls and frisbee's. She loves the frisbee so much she'd retrieve it to the point of exhausion or worse if she had her way.......does that mean I should allow her to get to that point just because she loves it so....?
In fact, last year she tore a cruiate ligament from landing on her knee after a vigorous session of frisbee. I have felt devastated over this....
Frisbee and ball chasing is now a thing of the past for her........dogs do NOT know their limits...that's OUR job....and somehow I think that may get missed in the heat of a race such as the Iditarod?

Three dogs losing their life during/because of a race is three too many in my book. How about the other ones that were injured and "near death" because they were pushed too hard. ?

I know I'm sounding ignorant and judgemental. I don't mean to be. I'm just a dog lover like you.

[Glacier]

Originally posted by rebeccarichardson


I guess I have a clearer picture. But as far as S.Husky's[is that the breed?] being "born to run"........ one must still be careful...
.dogs do NOT know their limits...that's OUR job....and somehow I think that may get missed in the heat of a race such as the Iditarod?

Three dogs losing their life during/because of a race is three too many in my book. How about the other ones that were injured and "near death" because they were pushed too hard. ?

I know I'm sounding ignorant and judgemental. I don't mean to be. I'm just a dog lover like you.

It's absolutely our job! Huskies would run til they dropped if they were allowed to. The musher has to recognize when their dogs need a break or a ride. Dogs can and do ride in the sled bag if they need a rest. The vets are there to try and ensure that if the musher misses it, the dog is still helped. I don't think many mushers miss things due to the heat of competition, but I expect some miss things due to their own exhaustion. The race is demanding on it's human competitors too and there are no doctors along the trail!

Three dogs is too many, but there is also no guarentee that those dog wouldn't have died if they were left behind in their dog yard. One died of a previously undiagnosed birth defect, one died of cardiac myeopathy--the same thing that happens to extremely fit humans sometimes. You've heard of runners suffering fatal heart attacks? It happens to sled dogs too. I haven't heard what happened to the last one, but I know that her musher had already dropped her as he said she seemed "off". She was under vet care when she died.

There's no way to tell when a dog's time is up. Last winter I lost a dog who was a mere four years old and up until the day he died, I thought he was perfectly healthy. Literally, he went from healthy to dead in under four hours due to a massive stroke. Just like us, there's no way to know!

NO dogs died in the last two years of the Yukon Quest--I'm a Yukon resident so I'm a bigger fan of the Quest!

Mushing is a way of life for me. It's what I do, it's what my dogs do, it's a large part of how I define myself. I moved here in large part so I could do this. There's alot of bad press out there about mushing. It's easier and gets way better ratings to show the crappy, sensational side of things. The musher who is toiling trying to make end meet and take care of their dogs, well, that's not a news story.

I don't think you sound judgemental. Sounds like you have a fairly open mind about the whole thing. Not everyone is going to agree with any kind of sport that involves animals. or humans for that matter! I'd prefer my husband didnt' play hockey cuz he gets hurt all the time!

Oh, and very few sled dogs are actually Siberian Huskies anymore. Most are crosses mixed with tons of other breeds. The only purebred team in the I-rod this year was my friend, Karen Ramstead. She scratched as her dogs were not handling the warm temperatures very well. This is her website:
http://www.telusplanet.net/public/musher/
She rocks and is everything a really great musher should be!

[rebeccarichardson]

Thanks for the websites Glacier. I'm glad we could have this exchange without becoming overly defensive or on the attack.

This forum is a great place to learn from others even if we don't always see eye to eye.

I will try to keep up with what's going on w/the Iditorad and other "sports" that involve dogs to make sure that they are being treated humanely and will speak out if I should learn differently.

This is my last comment[s] on this subject.


Jasmine's "Mom".

[Shantidog]

There whould be no ifs....ands or buts........we should not be supporting the exceptions....if you support any sport where a dog or animal is hurt maimend or killed...YOU.....YOU are suppporting animal abuse...I am sorry but there are no exceptions, they are either abused or they are not....and these animals are abused. I wish you people would stop comparing the Iditarod to one little group of pets that are not abused.....please take them out of this we are not talking about them....we are talking about the Iditarod,,,and anyone who watches, supports, and cheers on the mushers in this cruel race...are supporting dog abuse!!!!!
WE NEED TO STOP THESE GENRES THAT SUPPORT ANIMAL ABUSE....AND THESE ARE THE IDITAROD, PIT BULL FIGHTING, BULL FIGHTS GREYHOUND RACING ELEPHANTS IN THE CIRCUS, DANCING BEARS. sO PLEASE PEOPLE GET OFF YOUR HIGH HORSE, AND LOOK AT THE REAL PICTURE, READ THE STORIES, LOOK AT THE PICTURES, AND PULL YOU HEADS OUT OF THE SAND.....DO YOUR HOMEWORK THEN COME BACK, AND TELL US THAT THERE IS NO ABUSE IN THE IDITAROD....AND STOP BRINGING YOUR LITTLE LAP HUSKYS INTO THE PICTURE THEY HAVE ABSOLUTELY NOTHING TO DO WITH THIS!!!!!