Why I Don't Like The Ididirod

[cali]

so? working farm dogs get killed by hay bales and kicked by cows, hunting dogs and terriers end caught up in hunting accidents etc.. it happens. it sucks, but it happens. heck pet dogs get killed playing with toys and eating food. that doesnt mean we should all stop feeding our dogs, giving them toys and lock them all in little bubbles lol

[Giselle]

Shayna, the distinction is that the dog who died in the Iditarod is presumed to have expired due to physical exhaustion in a manmade competition.

In other words, the dog raced until it died prematurely. That's not like choking on a toy at all.

That said, I don't have a big problem with the Iditarod, but I can understand the upset.

[blue]

All long distance mushing races have deaths, they just dont recieve the media attention the Iditarod does.

[caseysmom]

I would like to hear from some of the folks with the first hand experience before I pass judgement. I know kuhio's bobcat participated. Is it a case of a dog with a bad ticker or are dogs truly abused for the sake of the race, I don't know but I would rather hear first hand.

[CountryWolf07]

I would like to hear from some of the folks with the first hand experience before I pass judgement. I know kuhio's bobcat participated. Is it a case of a dog with a bad ticker or are dogs truly abused for the sake of the race, I don't know but I would rather hear first hand.

Ditto.

[Catty1]

6 dogs have now died; necropsies have been done on several. As Glacier indicated, it's cardiac. Thread in Dog House.

[happylabs]

"so"??? That is a bit harsh. Very sad to hear about this. I had no idea this kind of thing went on. Aren't pet owners supposed to protect their pets?

[finn's mom]

Rest in peace, sweet dog.

[Twisterdog]

so? working farm dogs get killed by hay bales and kicked by cows, hunting dogs and terriers end caught up in hunting accidents etc.. it happens. it sucks, but it happens. heck pet dogs get killed playing with toys and eating food. that doesnt mean we should all stop feeding our dogs, giving them toys and lock them all in little bubbles lol

So? Wow, a little callous, I'd say. So ... a dog is dead. A six year old dog, who ran until it dropped dead. Not for a life-saving job ... but for a sport, for a trophy, some prestige and money.

I don't buy the old "But huskies love to pull!" adage either, and I'm sure it will rear it's ugly head. Yes, they do indeed love to pull ... but probably not until they die. A bit like making your child run up and down the basketball court until he drops dead and then saying, "But kids like to play basketball!"

Obviously no one is advocating not feeding our dogs anymore. However, there is a big difference in an accidental death despite precautions, which you are using as a means of comparison, and running a dog until it drops dead, then just sticking another dog in its place, and keep right on running.

I wouldn't make a dog run until it died for all the money and fame in the world. Sad and selfish, just MHO.

[blue]

The story didnt say why or how the dog died.

[Twisterdog]

The story didnt say why or how the dog died.

True, they don't know about this dog specifically yet.

However, just since statistics have been kept, at least 137 dogs have died while running the race. It's not like this is an isolated incident, it's just the first one so far this year.


Iditarod Link

Iditarod Link

[blue]

The Iditarod is also not the only long distance mushing race.

[MonicanHonda]

I definitely don't think this was on purpose. To me it looks like it was purely accidental.