How do you feel about dogs dying in iditarod dog sledding competitions

**wimedtypr** · 03-19-2009, 06:58 AM

Do you feel this is animal abuse or do you think these dogs love doing this and they die doing what they like. personally this bothers me and i feel it is abuse. http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/unle...tarod-die.html

**MTS04** · 03-19-2009, 08:05 AM

It absolutely bothers me.

Poor pups, yes they are doing what they like, however I don't think they volunteered to participate in the extreme race.

**Spirit Deer** · 03-19-2009, 08:32 AM

I can see this thread is going to get hot fast.

Anyone who thinks it's abuse does not know much about the Iditarod or about huskies.

The worst thing you can do to a husky is leave it in the dog yard when you take the rest of the team out. They love to work.

The Iditarod is one of the most closely supervised races there is. The dogs are checked by vets at every checkpoint. There are severe consequences for anyone caught abusing an animal. The mushers take care of their dogs' needs before their own.

Our vet and her husband ran the Iditarod last year. She is the last person who would EVER intentionally do harm to an animal, and since she is trained to recognize health problems in dogs, she would know if something was wrong. Her husband's team was in Seattle, on the way to this year's Iditarod, when he decided to scratch because the dogs didn't seem quite right but the cause was undetermined. He pulled out because like most Iditarod mushers, the well-being of the dogs comes before everything else.

People forget that huskies are a working breed and they love to work. They are the pro athletes of the dog world and are trained and conditioned for the job they do. It's not like they are pets plucked off the living room couch and expected to pull a sled 1,100 miles after spending the winter napping.

Yes, bad things can happen on the trail. But bad things can happen anywhere.

**Mamaw** · 03-19-2009, 01:07 PM

I believe it depends on the integrity of the musher and his reasons for competing. The husky breed is indeed a working dog and I believe if properly conditioned, cared for and bred, they do not mind the race a bit. However IF a musher has the desire to win at all costs and sees the animal as a possession as opposed to a valued team member, the potential for abuse is certainly present. I hesitate to group all mushers and all race participants in the same category. In any case, my heart goes out to the dogs who have either died or sustained injuries in this as well as in any sport. (agility, dock dog, fly ball and the like also have injuries) And I have concern and sympathy for the dogs owners who also experience this kind of situation. I am sure for most of them it is painful to watch an animal they love have any kind of issue. What really frosts my cookies is people who just abandon an animal with no thought for its care and those who indulge in dog fighting.

**Spirit Deer** · 03-19-2009, 03:07 PM

Our vet lost a dog on the Iditarod trail last year when a snowmobile plowed through her team. One dog was killed outright and another lost a leg. I talked to her weeks afterward and the story still brought tears to her eyes. She loves each and every one of her dogs. It was the kind of stupid accident that could happen anywhere and had nothing to do with the Iditarod per se.

I'm sure there are incidents of abuse of animals in the Iditarod just because people are people and there are bad eggs in every group, but I don't see how a serious abuser would get away with it for very long. There are too many checks and balances in that race, as I understand it. No matter how much they want to win, they aren't going to get dogs who are sick or lame or otherwise in poor condition past the vets and judges and others who check them over at each checkpoint.

I totally agree about people who dump their pets or leave them tied up all alone and ignored in the back yard or don't provide vet care or beat them because the pet is a handy target or act irresponsibly in other ways. I don't understand people who have pets and don't take care of them. Why have them then?

Dog fighting.... That topic makes me so enraged I can barely put together a cohesive sentence to discuss it, so I guess it's best if I don't.

**cab54** · 03-19-2009, 03:29 PM

It's stupid and wrong.

If these dogs are trained to carry, say....a sick person or pg lady to a hospital, I could see it. Or supplies to someone homebound.

But to take a guy on a sled from point A to point B for no flipping reason?

It's one thing if we 'people' want to race. Fine then, run a race. On your OWN feet, with YOUR heart a-poundin'. But to make dogs carry you in a race for nothing is crap.

**rottiegirl** · 03-19-2009, 03:31 PM

I race recreationally with my dog (NOT a husky) my best friend competes with her Huskies.

I agree, a dog is happier if they have something to do.

But the Iditorod is GRUELING and very difficult... not only that, there are large amounts of money involved... and from my time on this earth showing dogs and horses... when large sums are there animals get hurt...

**MomToTwoBoys** · 03-19-2009, 05:47 PM

Any sport that incorporates any being, whether it be human or otherwise, may and will encounter some rough spots that make it seem like it's the worst thing in the world to those who don't have exposure to it. It's one of those things that you don't truly understand unless you know everything about it, what goes on, and how it's monitored.

The Iditarod isn't like cock fighting, dog fighting, etc in that they really do take care of the animals and make sure that they aren't being harmed. If you're opposed to the Iditarod, then you must be outraged by greyhound dog racing, horse racing, and even those little weiner races because they all put some sort of stress on the animals being used.

**rottiegirl** · 03-19-2009, 06:04 PM

greyhound dog racing

is a brutal industry... as is horse racing, remember KY derby is for TWO year olds... most good horse trainers tell you to stay off a horses back untill he's three...

And Greyhounds... the losers a thrown away... talk to someone in greyhound rescue.

**Persimmon Lace** · 03-19-2009, 07:32 PM

Dogs are dogs, huskies are meant to work and they are always ready to go. We have a guy that takes his out with a sled that has wheels and I have never seen 4 happier dogs. I think for the most part the people who participate enjoy the challenge and love their dogs very much. There are vets to check them out at the checkpoints and care is given when needed. I'm sure there is abuse but no more so than child abuse which in my mind is more important.

If you want a cause how about joining the fight with the Chinese government over the live skinning of dogs and cats to make stuffed animals and fur collars that are bought in the US and all over the world.

As for the chicken fighting and dog fighting, did you know that those 2 offenses carry mandatory jail/prison time with higher fines and time served than most child sex abuse cases in alot of states. Just wanted to add a different perspective.

**Denvergirlie** · 03-19-2009, 07:58 PM

These are working animals. It's no different from hooking a horse up to a trailer and making that horse pull one along for a ride.

These dogs are well loved, cared for and mourned when they die.