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_affe..._iditarod.html

[K9soul]

http://petoftheday.com/talk/showthre...threadid=45833

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

http://petoftheday.com/talk/showthre...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_affe...s_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!