The Iditarod

[Shantidog]

I HAVE LIVED IN MANY DIFFERENT COUNTRIES, INCLUDING MEXICO, SOUTH AMERICA, AND AFRICA, AND I HAVE SEEN MANY HORRENDOUS FORMS OF ANIMAL ABUSE. I AM SOOOOO TIRED OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE NEVER EVEN BEEN OUTSIDE THEIR BACKYARD, AND WALKING AROUND WITH BLINDERS ON, ACTING AS THEY ARE THEY ONLY ONES WHO COULD HAVE A CORRECT OPINION. WAKE UP AND SMELL THE BLOOD SPILLED, AND STOP SUPPORTING ANIMAL ABUSE...I AM SURE THAT YOU WOULD NOT HAVE YOUR DOGS RUNNING IN THE IDITAROD......GET OFF YOUR SELF RIGHTIOUS FANNIES AND LOOK AT IT FROM THE DOG'S POINT OF VIEW

[rebeccarichardson]

Amen !!!!!!!

[Jodie9]

Originally posted by Shantidog
I HAVE LIVED IN MANY DIFFERENT COUNTRIES, INCLUDING MEXICO, SOUTH AMERICA, AND AFRICA, AND I HAVE SEEN MANY HORRENDOUS FORMS OF ANIMAL ABUSE. I AM SOOOOO TIRED OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE NEVER EVEN BEEN OUTSIDE THEIR BACKYARD, AND WALKING AROUND WITH BLINDERS ON, ACTING AS THEY ARE THEY ONLY ONES WHO COULD HAVE A CORRECT OPINION. WAKE UP AND SMELL THE BLOOD SPILLED, AND STOP SUPPORTING ANIMAL ABUSE...I AM SURE THAT YOU WOULD NOT HAVE YOUR DOGS RUNNING IN THE IDITAROD......GET OFF YOUR SELF RIGHTIOUS FANNIES AND LOOK AT IT FROM THE DOG'S POINT OF VIEW

Okay, well I highly doubt there is mushing going on in those countries. Have you EVER watched a race, or even seen a sled dog? Obviously not. I am certainly not supporting animal abuse, however, I am telling you that there are only rare cases in whihc sled dogs are actually abused. They love doing what they do. Its their life! I wouldnt have my Collie running in the Iditarod. Why? Because unlike sled dogs she is not bred to race. However, I certainly use her for herding sheep ect. Is this abusing her?

[Shantidog]

If you have been reading my posts....you will note that I lived in the Yukon before coming to Austrlia. I have been to two Iditarods...my brother in Law reaced in ther 1992 Iditarod.., i have been at the finish line of the iditarod. My partner and i raised huskies, . Please do not say I have never been around a sled dog or a sled dog race. We are talking about the dogs in the Iditarod...not whether you would put your collie in a sled dog race...If people do not wish to read these posts...please click at the top of the page. All we are trying to do here is educate people about the abuse in the Idiarod!! nothing more nothine less.

[Jodie9]

Originally posted by Shantidog
If you have been reading my posts....you will note that I lived in the Yukon before coming to Austrlia. I have been to two Iditarods...my brother in Law reaced in ther 1992 Iditarod.., i have been at the finish line of the iditarod. My partner and i raised huskies, . Please do not say I have never been around a sled dog or a sled dog race. We are talking about the dogs in the Iditarod...not whether you would put your collie in a sled dog race...If people do not wish to read these posts...please click at the top of the page. All we are trying to do here is educate people about the abuse in the Idiarod!! nothing more nothine less.

If YOU were reading YOUR previous posts you said " Would you put your dog in race" so I answered that and told you why..

You are educating people with the wrong facts.

Sorry I didnt read all of your previous posts. I find them to be very repitive.

[Denyce]

I not only find them to be repetitive but offensive and annoying. I do not appreciate being screamed at on the internet nor called names. Shantidog you are coming across as a screaming out of control activist which does NOT do your cause one bit of good. I just picture you at your computer with your face all red and sweating. Calm yourself down and speak rationally and with facts. Real facts spoken coherently not accusations thrown about willy nilly. I understand your passion however, attacking people the way you are doesn't gain many supporters.

I had posted on this topic before and don't intend on wasting my time doing so again. I read the webpage on the Iditerod every day. I was both enlightened and enthralled. I was saddened at the deaths of the three dogs but was comforted by the fact that the deaths were not caused by the race but by other reasons. From what I could see online most of the mushers seemed to truly care for their dogs. I know I am not there in person and I know that in some of the animal industries I have worked in I have seen animal abuse. However, what I read about this year I think there are far greater abuses going on in other areas than what I "saw" in this years Iditerod.

I have bigger "fish to fry now" so to speak

Denyce

[bckrazy]

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...
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?

First off, I don't think you are much of a fair, educated judge of all this, being that you don't know what a Siberian Husky is ( ). Glacier rescued all of her dogs, they are dogs that live to run and most would probably be very unhappy if they were forced to live without it (just like most herding-bred Australian Cattle Dogs/Border Collies/etc are very unhappy without work)! There are crappy people everywhere, in every dog sport, from dog shows to sledding dogs to herding dogs. I have been to a dog show when, because the handlers wanted a win, they had their Boxer out in 90-100 degree heat all day and the dog died of heatstroke right in the middle of the show.

Next, I think it's very very sad that you would deprive your dog of Frisbee and Ball play because of a previous injury. Yes, it is your responsbility to monitor your dog during play and make sure she doesn't hurt herself. Just like you should prevent her from over-heating by offering her water, you should prevent her from being injured by taking precautions. I've taken a lot of professional disc dog classes, which teach you NOT to overthrow, encouraging the dog not to jump vertically and therefore run a much lower risk of injuring themselves, and to give your dog plenty of breaks in between. You should try to only send your dog out for far, low throws - which provides the most exercise and the least trauma to ligaments, joints, hips, etc. I have never heard of a dog being injured from ball playing.... unless they'd try to catch the ball in mid-air? My dog gets (at lEAST) 1 hour-long Frisbee and ball sessions every day, he has great hips, knees and hasn't torn or traumatized anything in the 3 years he has been doing this.

[bckrazy]

Originally posted by 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!!!!!

wow, LOL... you need to get out, or something. I think the vast vast majority of animal abuse occurs behind closed doors, not in the public eye in dog sports. Most people that participate in sports with their dogs (dog shows, sledding, agility, flyball, obedience) are well bonded and loving toward their dogs, and if anything spoil them MUCH more than the average "pet" home. You should be much more angry at the millions of americans STARVING their dogs, or leaving them in a pen/chained up for all of their life alone, or puppy mills overbreeding and then abandoning their dogs. There will be horrible people everywhere in this world, if anything dog sports are an activity that people do because they love their dogs and want to do as much with them as possible. I think that almost any working sledding dog is a lot happier than the millions of dogs who spend their entire life isolated, unexercised, and unstimulated (ie, a huge number of pet dogs).

I think you should try to volunteer at animal shelters, or do something, instead of coming on here and ranting senselessly. TRUST US, we of all people are 100% for outlawing and locking up all dog fighting and animal exploitation rings, along with prosecuting the average neglectful dog owner.

[Shantidog]

By the way I am very active with animals....I DO volunteer at the aminal shelter!! I also have 6 rescue dogs of my own that I am trying to take care of....Please do not attempt to tell me what I should, and should not be doing!!

[Jodie9]

Originally posted by Shantidog
By the way I am very active with animals....I DO volunteer at the aminal shelter!! I also have 6 rescue dogs of my own that I am trying to take care of....Please do not attempt to tell me what I should, and should not be doing!!

Thats surprising.

[bckrazy]

Originally posted by Shantidog
By the way I am very active with animals....I DO volunteer at the aminal shelter!! I also have 6 rescue dogs of my own that I am trying to take care of....Please do not attempt to tell me what I should, and should not be doing!!

I didn't tell you to do anything. I only suggested that you, maybe, stop screaming at people because that gets you no where, and direct your efforts to the millions of less informed dog owners compared to PT people.

By all means, continue to "try" to take care of your 6 rescues. Most of us here have our own loved and spoiled rescue dogs, including me.

[wolfsoul]

Originally posted by Shantidog
if you support any sport where a dog or animal is hurt maimend or killed...YOU.....YOU are suppporting animal abuse...

A dog can be hurt, maimed, or killed in ANY dog sport. The Iditarod is only the tip of the iceburg. Way more dogs are injured or killed while hunting, working cattle or hogs, etc. I once heard about a dog going over a jump in agility, tripping, landing on his head and breaking his neck, killing himself. I've heard about dogs turning awkwardly in flyball and spraining/breaking a leg. I saw a dog on TV injure himself while doing frisbee. I suppose this means that we should discontinue every single dog sport there is? No matter WHAT a dog is doing, whether it's running in a race or running around the backyard, it is susceptible to injury. I guess that because I love dog sports, I'm supporting animal abuse.

You can't force a dog to run. There's absolutely no way on earth. They don't listen to whips or any means of physical abuse. If a dog wants to stop, they dog will stop. The owner in no way at all "makes" the dog run.

I think you should do some research on the breeds involved in the Iditarod. Alaskan huskies, Siberian huskies, etc. Sibes were originally bred to run alot longer and in alot rougher terrain than what the Iditarod has in mind. And unlike the dogs nowadays, they weren't fed all the time either. Alot of times they had to find their own food, their own shelter, and tend to their own needs until they would continue to run once again. That is what has shaped it into such an independant, lively, and energetic breed. It lives to run. I would never dream of asking a dog not bred for or not capable of such rough work to run the Iditarod. That would be incredibly cruel; but a husky knows what he's doing and can set his own pace. It's in their blood.

Personally, I've heard of and seen more dogs killed in their own backyard than out doing sports.

[elizabethann]

As an FYI, I just saw a t.v. spot last night for an upcoming show on the Iditarod. I THINK it was either on the Outdoor Channel or the Travel Channel (honestly, I can't remember). Anyhow, they're doing a show on the dogs of the Iditarod. I think it's this weekend. I'm not sure the exact day or the exact time but if you did a search on the NET perhaps you could find it? I'll try to do a search myself to see if I can find anything. If I find anything, I'll post it. Anyhow, if anybody was interested in seeing what it's all about you could watch it. Just a thought.

[elizabethann]

I just found something. It is on the OUTDOOR CHANNEL:

OLN® adds another best-in-class event to its roster with the 2005 Iditarod Sled Dog Race, presented by Cabela’s. The event begins in Anchorage, AK, and OLN’s telecast will provide comprehensive, end-to-end coverage, across 1,150 miles of the roughest, most beautiful terrain Mother Nature has to offer. From jagged mountain ranges, frozen rivers, desolate tundra and miles of wind-swept coastline, OLN will be there firsthand to document what has been called "The Last Great Race on Earth."

It's on April 2-3 at 10PM Eastern time and
April 4-6 8PM Eastern time.

I'll probably watch it too see what it's all about.

Just thought I'd let everybody know. Don't kill the messenger.

[wolfsoul]

I wish I had that channel! I'll see if I can get someone to tape it for me. It's one of my favourite channels because it has Top Dogs, but unfortunatly we are missing a whole bunch of channels and that is one of them.