Does anyone think that banning the iditarod is going to prevent cruelty to these animals? I for one don't. Instead the abuse will happen in the backyard where no one can see it. Just like chaining dogs... some people get all up in arms about that but a chain isn't the abuser... the people are and abusers will find a way to abuse whether there is a race, a chain, whatever.

Now I'm not saying I support the iditarod but I don't think banning it is going to save these dogs from abusers. As for anything that shortens a dogs life... I think quality of life is more important than quantity. If the dog needs to run to be happy... let him run. Again not saying that the iditarod is the best way to do that though.