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Sled dogs rest after returning from a tour run by Outdoor Adventures in the Soo Valley north of Whistler, British Columbia, Canada in 2011.
The government of British Columbia, Canada has published new regulations governing the handling of sled dogs — a move prompted by a grisly 2010 case in which a tourism company near Whistler killed as many as 100 animals that became "surplus" amid slumping business.
The Sled Dog Code of Practice is a step — a small one, according to critics — toward addressing problems in competitive and entertainment dog sledding that is mostly unseen.
"The problem with this whole issue is these (breeding and training) operations are out of the public eye," said Debra Probert, executive director of the Vancouver Humane Society. "People see the dogs in public, but they don’t see what goes on behind the scenes."
The sled dog slaughter came to light only when one of the employees of Howling Dog Tours Whistler Ltd. who were charged with killing the dogs by shooting them and slitting their throats applied for compensation from the Workers’ Compensation Board of British Columbia because he said he was suffering trauma from the task. The WorkSafeBC document explaining the decision to approve the compensation was leaked, making incident public in gruesome detail.
Animal rights critics have long criticized major dog sled races — especially the 1,100-mile Iditarod across Alaska, which begins March 3. Mushers are adamant that dogs love the work, that they are bred to do it, and that no one loves the dogs more than they do. But critics say pushing the dogs to run 100 miles a day for two weeks is brutal. One or more dogs die in the race nearly every year, despite the volunteer veterinarians who attend to the animals.
The new British Columbia regulations are primarily focused on the breeding, training, transportation and euthanizing of the animals. They spell out requirements for pens and tethers, exercise, socializing, grooming and nail care. And they say that euthanizing should not be a means of culling or population control.
The standards disappointed some animal advocates, including the Vancouver Humane Society, which had advocated banning sled dog racing.
And some were outraged that the regulations spell out how sled dog owners should euthanize dogs if they cannot race anymore and can't be placed in a new home. A diagram illustrates the proper way to position a gun at a dog’s head to ensure a clean kill.
The Humane Society's Probert said that in any case the regulations and standards “have no teeth” because no resources were allotted for their enforcement.
Nonetheless, the British Columbia regulations move the province ahead of other Canadian jurisdictions, where no specific regulations exist.
Within the United States, Alaska currently has among the weakest legal protections for animals, with only a few lines in state law that require "minimum conditions" for "adequate" nutrition and care.
Just last month, an Alaska court found a sled dog breeder guilty of cruelty to animals after local authorities found 19 dead dogs and 168 more severely malnourished at his operation in Willow. Frank Rich was sentenced to 180 days in jail after pleading guilty to two counts of animal cruelty.
A task force has just started formulating standards to elaborate on the law.
"The challenge is to make them broad enough to encompass all sorts of dog lifestyles," including athletes like sled dogs, said Jay Fuller, veterinarian for the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation. "We’d like to make clear standards for what is acceptable."
There is no question of barring dog sledding, which is protected by state law, he said.
“Any regulations we adopt have to be consistent with state law, and the law says (the competitions) are OK,” Fuller said.
"What I hope is that there will be a universal standard of care for all dogs," said Maureen O’Nell, executive director of the Alaska Society for the Protection of Cruelty to Animals, who is taking part in the meetings. She said that sled dogs are a particularly sensitive case, and some would like to create special rules for them.
"The mushers are a strong community and I think there has been hesitation to what might somehow be perceived as anti-mushing,” she said.
After the dog slaughter case in British Columbia, which emerged shortly after Whistler hosted the 2010 Winter Olympics, the dog sledding business took a hit.
"When the incident occurred … it was a black eye not only for dog sledding but for Whistler," said Craig Beattie, general manager of Canadian Snowmobile, a Whistler company that provides outdoor adventures, including dogsledding tours. In order to reassure customers, he opened up his company's kennels to them and promised them full refunds if they felt there was anything amiss.
He said the standards mandated by the government were already in place for their sled dogs, and he said he hopes they will be enforced elsewhere.
"I think it will be way better for the animals, and for the people," said Beattie. "Obviously, the negativity will decrease toward the dog sledding."
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As history dictates, a mass brutality must come to public awareness before positive changes can be made...
Why is putting down surplus animals brutal? As opposed to what, turning them lose as some irresponsible pet owners do? Keeping them locked up in cages in animal shelters because there's no where else for them to go? How is this any different from slaughtering livestock for food?
There will always be unwanted animals, particularly from those industries that use them (horse and dog racing, primarily). There should be standards for their care and working conditions, but to advocate keeping them alive at any cost is impractical.
AG99,
What makes you think that when I refered to "a mass brutality" - I was ONLY specifying just animals?
AG99,
Interesting points. Those dogs have usually come to trust their owners and see them as part of their pack. It seems like a betrayal more than anything.
I've always wondered why it's the animals that "need" culling, when most of the time it's humans encroaching on their living space. And how is a living thing considered surplus?
I understand they have a business to run, but if they don't have a good humane plan to take care of the animals if their business slows, then they shouldn't be allowed to operate.
So what should they do with their dogs if you close them down? If they did not bread those dogs to mush, they would never have the opportunity to exist in the first place. The world is not a perfect place.
ag99 asks: How is this any different from slaughtering livestock for food? I didn't read in the article that they killed and ate the dogs.. The company should have sold the dogs as soon as the profits started dipping and his business was slowing down, or even give them away I'm sure people would have gladly took those cool dogs off their hands. Would have been cheaper then the $75,000 fine they got and the jail time they got.
Gotta go with MarineDoc. It is the betryal thing. Says something about the owner of the animals. Not much of a fan of someone capable of betrayal. And like many breeders, they fail to plan ahead for the "surplus" and take the easy way out--kill the animal.
I raise livestock and know it is not practicable to raise cattle from birth to natural death but these are livestock as opposed to domestic pets. There is a difference.
Why is putting down surplus animals Brutal? Please don't work in the pet trade or any dam industry that has anything whatso ever to do with any animal! BECAUSE SIR OR MADAM YOU'D BE A DISASTER!
They talk about vicious wild animals,well here's a NewsFlash!The most vicious wild animals on this earth are human beings.They'll kill anything at the drop of hat, if it's an inconvience,or doesn't suit their taste or style,if it is expendable or exploitable, for sport,or if they are just get sick and tired of animals, or other people, they'll kill it just because!
What happened to those sled dogs was DISGUSTING TO SAY THE LEAST! Your running a business like that you better come up with a much better game plan than just shooting because you're losing business,or if it's slow or blah blah blah blah! Otherwise stay the HELL OUT OF THAT BUSINESS! That guy's excuses for killing those beautiful dogs were Lame,Dumb ass, and Inexcusable!
You're working with LIVE BREATHING CREATURES NOT INANIMATE OBJECTS. The problem with many people working with animals is they don't know their ass from a hole in the ground.Especially in this case when it comes to using dogs in that type of business.
THIS IDIOT SURE AS HELL DIDN'T! Please spare me the PURE UNADULTERATED BULL CRAP!
The practice of destroying 'surplus' animals that need 'culling' in the 'animal sports industry' as a result of overbreeding and poor business BS needs to go. Race horses that aren't up to snuff are sold to the Mexican butchers, the sled dogs and greyhounds are shot. So sorry, as long as people support this cruelty by attending the races or sled rides, etc. then the animals will be the victims. If they had no customers then there would be no overbreeding and butchery. I won't attend or bet on any sport that involves animals. To say that it is the same as breeding livestock for food begs the question of when do we, as a species, evolve into something more compassionate? Are we even capable of such evolution?
AG99....killing animals because they are of no use anymore is sick and disturbing. They weren't asked to be born to service humans in sled racing...and sure as hell weren't asked to be killed because they weren't needed anymore. Either stop racing or stop overbreeding. It shows the state of the world today. Everything and everyone is dispensable. It's sick. These poor defenseless animals.
This is the same as the racing greyhound business...losing dogs are killed. period.
I say we put down the humans who did this. We have a surplus of people, and they should be the first to go.
WTF??? Vick got crucified for something similar.
I'm a bigtime sled dog race fan. Most kennels and mushers have an adoption program for dogs ready to retire. This kennel should be (and most likely will be) very harshly dealt with! There are so many people including myself that would gladly take these wonderful pets to live out their lives in loving homes and not need to be shot!
The people saying it's not a big deal -- ignore them. They're either trolls or the first people on the line for mcdonald's new line of "Orphan and puppy burgers" sometime in the future, and quite frankly not a meaningful part of our society.
to ag...these aren't livestock dummy , these are inteligent dogs trained to do a job.i hope somebody culls you.so basically what you are saying is that when these dogs don't have a job they should be put down?people like you make me sick. i hope you don't breed.
yeah , like the brutality of the democratic party! lol!
So a country that revels in the wanton slaughter of thousands of baby seals by bashing their heads in every spring is horrified by the killing of a hundred sled dogs. Wow. way to go ay.
How terrible, in our neck of the woods the dogs are dumped on some back road and left to fend for themselves, with that in mind putting them down doesn't seem so bad.
Killing the unwanted dogs was the merciful thing to do compared to how things could have been, it's better than starving to death or dying from exposure or disease with no shelter.
While it seems a shame and a waste one must remember these are dogs not people, perhaps if they were killed in an abortion clinic it would be ok with those who cry cruelty to animals!
Radioguy, Thank You for putting it right out there! STRAIGHT COMMON SENSE, when it comes to situations like this! You got my vote!
In this situation with these dogs there was none and the poor beautiful dogs go the short end of the stick!
Randall your landlord called!He said he was going to rent your space under the bridge! You better go Home!
AG99, you are a pos! There are many ways to find homes for them. Somebody needs to cull you when you get old, see how you like that!
What is wrong with you people? Are you not aware of the thousands of unwanted animals sitting in shelters right now that will be euthanized because there aren't enough homes for them? You would flood the market with more unwanted dogs?
And you would wish death upon me for advocating a more practical and humane solution. You guys are the sick ones. I find many of the comments on this thread far more disgusting than the article, disturbed even.
Death to all trolls!
Perhaps it would be best to cull the owners of all businesses that no longer provide a usefull, needed, or wanted service to society, after all, what's the point of keeping them around. Think of how much bailout money would have been saved with this approach, and how many fewer snipppy, arrogan, pompous and petulant CEOs we would have to deal with.
Kerry Norton
WTF??? Vick got crucified for something similar.
=========
...yes, and the anal aperture deserved it.
Shame we can't put down posters :|
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...Ummmm, like Russ?
It seems that they could have at least made an attempt to find a new home for these animals. It is unfortunate than one a-hole is giving an entire community a bad name. For the most part, people who are involved with dog sledding love their animals, in some cases more than they like people. Their dogs are part of their family. The breeds used in dog sledding are extremely intelligent and loyal animals. They also make fantastic pets for someone who has the room for them. Because they are extremely active animals, they need a home where they will have room to run and need to be able to get regular exercise. I would not want to have one in an apartment because the dog would be miserable. To those who think that using these animals to pull a sled is cruel, I would say educate yourself. These breeds love to do this. They are bred for this kid of work and they are very happy pulling a sled. Lets face it, you can train a dog all you want, but if the dog does not really want to do something, they are not going to do it. The smarter the animal the more stubborn they can be, and these dogs are very smart. If you ever watch the excitement in these dogs when they are being harnessed up before a race, you know that they love it and can not wait to get out there.
Should have given these dogs a chance. Your trash may turn out to be someone else treasure. My dog was adopted from city shelter. She turns out to be something best in my life. She opens and closes doors by herself, no not pet door, real regular human door. Dogs are not livestock. Dogs are highly intelligent and passionated.
So let me see if I understand you all right. To kill these animals that they have no more use for is the sickest and most inhumane thing you have ever heard of. Right?
Then what does that make the people who dispose of children before they are born because they have no use for them or they are a incomvinience. Exersizing ones own rights?
Man, this is a screwed up world we live in.
@Roadhouse Blues
Tell Randall Flagg to go back to the STAND.
Pathetic. People cite "betrayal" and "rights" of animals (dogs, no matter how magnificent a specimen each may be), but yet America and many other modern nations encourage and promote the deliberate termination (horrific) of young developing humans in the womb of women.
It's not a personal "right" when you abuse your reproductive system and deliberately kill another human inside you. Remember, that mere "blob of cells" is NOT your body, as it has it's own unique set of DNA, and develops it's own body (in time). No human has an organ that is another developing human.
Stop the murdering of both HUMANS as well as inhumane treated of animals. Remember that humans rank higher than ANY animal.
Roadhouse Blues: Wasn't aiming at anyone in particular. Take a minute, have a read, I'm sure you'll find a fistful. These pages offer a wide variety of mental/moral deficients.
This is something I struggle with a lot considering I'm a Buddhist, have gone vegetarian(mainly to to inhumane treatment of animals) and grew up being taught to not harm any animals(even bugs), but is pro choice. But, thinking of it rationally, I personally break down the abortion/pro-life/pro-choice/animal welfare issue (in my mind):
*Slitting throats of over 100 dogs is worse than cutting a life short from a mothers womb
, as with housing farm animals in poor conditions for most of their life, only to inhumanely slaughter them later. If life is life, then in order to compare abortion to inhumane treatment of animals we should allow the child to be born, cage him/her, abuse him/her, then murder him/her.
*Life is suffering, so why bring a child into this life if you can't truly support him/her. Foster care isn't always the ideal.
*Forcing a business to comply and threat animals humanely makes more sense than forcing a mother to bear a child for 9 months, and then relinquish it to the system after labor.
What I get from this article is, that yet another business is treating "things/people/animals/ the environment" as dispensable. Such disregard towards people/workers, animals and environment to cut corners and make a buck. Same old story.
Sad.
I never thought of this aspect of dog sled racing. The Idatrod Race is looked forward to by so many people. Their owners are so close to their dog, I am sure they do the best they can, when a dog is out of speed.
This must be looked at. Canada/Alaska---I am sure there is abuse going on with dogs who cannot make the "grade" anymore---not all Handlers/Racers. There is always "that element" of people who think of dogs, of which something one throws away. How awful.
What a beautiful face the White Dog has, (He looks pooped/sad) and the other Siberian Husky. Wish they could speak in Engles. A great deal of the racing dogs are treated better than most people today.
The problem I have with slaughtering these dogs is their reason for doing it. They didn't kill these animals because they couldn't be cared for.They did it so THEY wouldn't HAVE to care for them.If they were still making money off the animals they would never have killed them.This is all about GREED.They killed the animals so they wouldn't have to pay to feed and care for them while business for them is slow.If the Mushing business improves by next year they will obtain more dogs to replace the ones they slaughtered.Businesses have slow periods,it's just part of being in business.You do what you can to make it through the slow periods and you profit through the good times.To slaughter all those dogs simply because you didn't want to pay maintain them during a slump is pathetic,because I'm sure you didn't mind paying the cost when you were making money off them. This had nothing to do with being humane,or culling an over-populated herd...This was about nothing more than greed.....and for those who say they dont see anything wrong with how these animals were dealt with only proves you're more of a beast than than the dogs............Pathetic
John is wrong about the greyhounds. They are put up for adoption for anyone who would like to adopt one. I have met many people over the years with adopted greyhounds. They make very nice and serene pets.
@Skip, true there are greyhounds that get out and get adopted, but only through the diligence of rescue organizations that rescue/transport/perform the adoption process. With sled dogs, as with greyhounds and other animals used for racing, there isn't much in the way of mandated protection of them when they can't perform. As others have noted, most of us are meat eaters and true that there's a ton of animal mistreatment in the food industry. However, if there was not just mandated policies in place that all needed to follow, but also enforcement/followup by government run agencies (instead of simply relying on humane societies to investigate/followup), there could be a common ground for all to agree on. Will there still be offenders? Sure. But if the goverments of both US and Canada could put in policies, and enforce them with very harsh prison terms, things could be much better.
excellent observation tbenton - truly amazing that we can justify the slaughter of 3,000,000 fetus every year and never never shed a tear but we are outraged (rightfully so) over the senseless slaughter of over 100 dogs. It truly is a screwed up heartless and soulless society we exist in . No one wonder I love my dogs and find most people repugnant and disgusting
Well Ternan I'm outraged by both. I've had nordic dogs before. The dogs of those breeds are extremely loyal and looking into their eyes I know they have souls. When I had to give up my last one( the vet got him into a no-kill shelter) I cried for days. He was a better friend than any of my three husbands. As for abortion I know when dennis and I conceived it wasn't a fetus we conceived it was our daughter and I can't understand how any scientist can say otherwise.
In the beliefs of my spiritual family, a Native American one, when we cross over at the end of our lives we find a bridge upon which are all the dogs we have known. They determine the crossing.......
Send them to southeast asia and they would be livestock. Problem solved.
AG99--I know some people who could be realistically considered "surplus." Should we slit their throats too? And killing something because you can't be bothered to care for it any longer is nothing like killing an animal for food. I don't have a problem with slaughtering an animal for food; that is part of the chain of life. These dogs weren't slaughtered to provide sustenance for anyone. They were killed because their owners are cheap and lazy. Big difference.
This is sickening. Those dogs didn't have to die.
I'm sure you would have taken them in.
What I find interesting is this showing up in MSNBC just now. This is old news and I'd read about it shortly after it came to light. It's already been dealt with.
Mr. Schiffner, you are correct, and the issue of sled dogs has for ages been one of the issues that animal rights activists have been discussing and making public. Sadly, animal rights issues gain the attention of the mainstream media when one of its supporters does something outrageously insane, or illegal.
People didn't used to believe that greyhounds trained to race were being abused, either. The general public knows the entire truth about that 'sport' now. Perhaps the circumstances of the sled dogs will now find a public willing to be educated.
clebro,
I would have gladly taken a few in if I actually lived in Canada at the time that this was happening. I'm sure i'm not the only one either.
Ban the damn dog sled racing! And When are they going to ban the seal clubbing??????? THey still kill seal pups by bashing them in the head and then tear the fur from their bodies, at times these poor little pups are still alive while doing this.
I don't see why we can't "cull" humans who show their rampant ignorance, cruelty and general stupidity. God knows we have a surplus of those, like some who have posted here, who think that's what should be done to "surplus animals". How about considering, if you think you MUST put them down, doing it humanely like putting them to sleep???? Or, consider at minimum putting them up for adoption.
A little wise regulation of this "so called" recreation a long time ago might have helped. I'm always amazed at the individuals who are so damned quick to talk about "culling" of creatures who sure as hell don't have a vote in the idea.
suggestion we should "cull" humans is rampant ignorance, cruelty, and general stupidity ..period.
Tao,
Not really. If you consider how useful these dogs were and likely how loyal they were as companions, you would be able to see how cruel and despicable an act this was and is in the future. I am thankful that we continue to destroy everyone and everything we come into contact with, as soon we will be eradicated as a race. It makes me sick to even consider these "people" human when you consider their actions. These are the same type of people who would kill their children, beat their families, and generally sell out anything for a buck. Perhaps you sympathize with them, but that puts you in the same category as them.
I would have done a lot more than "PUT THEM DOWN", These are beautiful, healthy (well...they would not have been in the race in the first place if they weren't) animals. These owners should be held for animal cruelty charges. I will never watch another one of these races because of this brutality. Every one who owns these dogs should feel SHAME. I, personally, am sickened. I was naive to believe these dogs were a part of the family. Clearly they are not.
The Canadian government has failed in so many ways. It is pitiful to destroy what can be considered a natural resource.
Really disgusting.
Any time animals are a means for entertainment and someone stands to make money they seem to up abused. Horse racing, dog racing, breeding for profit, circuses, many zoos. It's a tragedy. This case is horrific but Canada has a much lower rate of euthanasia in their shelters over all than America does. Until mandatory spay neuter is made law we'll continue to see our tax dollars used to kill perfectly good pets. The save rate doesn't even reach 20% is a vast majority of this country.
O.o, where did I say anything my opinion on what I think it is a solution for the dogs? I simple commented catgoddess first sentence.
I think do think compassionate fore thought should be the practice of anything. And should be utilized in how we carry forth with all things.
"Pedestrian in SF".... typical liberal CA babbling nonsense?! First, tax dollars are not used to support shelters or any other place euthanizing the hundreds of thousands of 'pets' created by ignorant people refusing to spay/neuter so "the kids can see puppies/kittens, etc. born" all over this country. Or the dumb jerk who thinks it makes him more masculine to let the dog "keep his ba--s" then the dog runs all over the neighborhood creating more unwanted animals (dog or cat usually). And what about the massive number of people abusing their own children!! Are you going to go house to house and get them too? Or the abused spouses, parents, elderly... the list goes on. The outfit in Canada that killed the dogs didn't want anyone to know their business was failing completely after they expanded beyond reason to cater to Olympics attendees. When they first started the plan, there should have been some kind of intervention on behalf of the animals being mass produced (or purchased from other breeders) for what was going to be done with the animals after the Olympics were over resulting in no need for the huge increase in sled dog numbers. It is far better to plan ahead than try to hide the problem after the fact. No matter what some ill-informed city-slicker thinks (yeah, I'll be deleted but it's true) sled dogs love to pull sleds! That's what they have been bred to do for hundreds of years. Same with many other breeds of dogs.... herding dogs run and run and run because they love their job of herding (but they're not expected to run long periods in heat without appropriate rest, food or water, etc) Ever try to stop a herding dog from herding... everything? Bloodhounds, and other similar breeds, do what they do because they are not only good at it, they love to do it. The wonderful dogs serving in the military and our law enforcement departments... they do it because it is fun! Fun to find the person stuck in a snow bank... fun to find someone buried in rubble, fun to find that package of illegal drugs... and these animals are all loved and valued members of the handler's family. Sometimes the handler is also the breeder to ensure only the very best of their desirable traits are passed on to future generations. Many species of animals would be extinct if not for captive breeding programs by zoos and other conservation groups. It is nice to see animals perform in circuses but some animals just don't seem to be appropriate there., but as long as they have good care, food, exercise, etc. I'm not going to pass judgement on that ... yet... Just because there's one bad 'apple' in the bunch (yeah, there are BAD Tweeters too) doesn't make everyone participating in traditional animal athletic events negligent and/or abusive. I've had neighbors who treated their kids or spouse worse than shelter animals. Some of these people spouting off and judging without knowing the facts need to get an education in the real world. I DO NOT advocate senselessly killing ANY animal, human included, so you can lay that one to rest right now.
PNW Resident - When you start off a post with a stereotype stupidity like "typical liberal CA babbling nonsense?! " - you set yourself up as a bigoted fool. That makes it hard to take the rest of your post seriously. Even though you makje a few good points, you need to gain some respect for other people and drop the immature name calling, rid your mind of stereotypes and then others will be able to give your ideas some credibility. BTW, not everyone in CA babbles (Californians are pretty well educated on the whole), not everyone in CA is liberal (many of them are Independents), and there isn't really a 'typical' Californian, except maybe in your mind.
Lucy before you whine about things you do not know , you should look up 1st it makes you look not so bright. Most of the owners i know from the north take very good care of their dogs a hell of a lot better than people in the cities do, These dogs are made for this kind of work. And your comments about the seals being alive when they are killed is just environmental BS propaganda. These activists will lie and decieve to get what they want. The province of Newfoundland kills seals for a couple of reasons, 1 it helps the people get work that is much needed out there, and it helps the cod which was running real low over the last 10-15 years. There are close to 5.6 million seals and the province kills about 250,000 thousand a year which makes for good sustainability. Sometimes we have to pick man made needs over anuimals since our governments keep sending jobs to China, it just a sad fact of life now a days.
We already cull humans. It's called abortion.
@crying shame; and the re-tarted speaks! Stay with the subject of the article (You just convinced another person with your mindless ranting that maybe anti-abortion people are dangerous!)
The Sled Dog Industry is brutal. Jane Stevens, a former Iditarod dog handler, describes a dog beating in her letter published by the Whitehorse Star (Feb. 23, 2011). She wrote: "I witnessed the extremely violent beating of an Iditarod racing dog by one of the racing industry's most high-profile top 10 mushers. Be assured the beating was clearly not within an 'acceptable range' of 'discipline'. Indeed, the scene left me appalled, sick and shocked. After viewing an individual sled dog repeatedly booted with full force, the male person doing the beating jumping back and forth like a pendulum with his full body weight to gain full momentum and impact. He then alternated his beating technique with full-ranging, hard and fast, closed-fist punches like a piston to the dog as it was held by its harness splayed onto the ground. He then staggeringly lifted the dog by the harness with two arms above waist height, then slammed the dog into the ground with full force, again repeatedly, all of this repeatedly." FOR MORE FACTS: Sled Dog Action Coalition, http://www.helpsleddogs.org
PNW - educate yourself about proposed spay/neuter laws before you go on another screed, okay? Licensed breeders would be exempt, as would captive breeding program. The people you decry - back yard breeders, hobby breeders, people who want their cat to have "just one litter" would not be exempt. We kill millions of animals in this country, and if you think your state doesn't pay for local Animal Care and Control, please do a little research on that too. I understand that "sled dogs love to pull sleds" but if there are so many of them that one company can't place hundreds of them, don't you think that's a problem?
Well if I could have I would have but it would have been crowded in a motorhome with a half wolf mix and it would have needed to be a female or Tip wouldn't have accepted a rival. A spayed or neutered pet is as happy a pet as not neutered and much easier in urban areas to have. That said Huskys have a mind of their own and an internal GPS that makes them go for 5 mile walks without you if your not careful.Mine showed up at my daughters house twice in one day 5 miles from home and was heading out the 3rd time when my son-in -law caught him.
any one with malnourished dogs should be charged [and fined heavily] with animal cruelty. after that i must say putting them down in a economically sound way is the owners right. they are after all livestock[not lassie] p.s. there are plenty of strays in your community if you want to get up and rescue a critter.
OK---it's the owner's right to have the dogs 'put down', but why did the dogs need to be shot and/or have their throats slit? What's wrong with injecting them with sodium pentathol, which is commonly used by veterinarians, and, in my opinion, more humane than a bullet to the head? Are bullets that much more 'economically sound' than 60 cc's of pentathol?
The devil's in the details. Had that company in Whistler not had their man shoot and slit the throats of the dogs, the story might never have made it to the public.
anyone familiar with sled dogs knows they are not pets. handlers are frequently biiten by their own dogs. adopting these dogs out to a family situation is usually not safe. when animals are used for entertainment they are a commodity and when not productive they are disposed of and it's legal. i will never attend any event using animals for betting ---look into the horse racing industry-you'll find everything from drugging to enhance chances of winning to poisoning in order to collect on insurance. competitive animal sports are a dirty business! the animals are just property and money is the bottom line.
"granny22" for every ONE outfit or person doing things illegally in animal athletics, there are thousands who participate legally, ethically, and humanely. There are people in ALL industries who do bad things to collect insurance. There is betting on every kind of event imaginable, so you would be wise to stay home, turn off the TV and radio, etc. and just "not participate." That way the rest of us won't be crowded. Thanks!
NATIVE PNW RESIDENT----then put on a funny hat and go to the delmar horse races-chances are you'll get to see at least one injury-maybe even see one killed. don't let that spoil your fun. the industry will just breed more and the races will go on. alfter all animals are just for your entertainment.
Depends on if you can get the drug. Isn't it a Class A drug requiring a license. Some breeds love the work they were bred to do my Bernese Loved to plow through the snow and pulled cut wood for me oue malmute thought chasing the sled down the hill so he could pull it back up with me on it was heaven. And don't get between a terrier and a rat. If you are not careful your border collie will herd your grandchildren. some people have no heart nough said
Let's face it. Any business which uses animals to make a profit inevitably caves in to brutality and the worst inhumane practices: horse racing, greyhound racing, auction houses and slaughterhouses, zoos, circus acts, rodeos, dog sledding, fur production, pony rides at the park. Humans appear to be inherently cruel and the worst ones seem to be drawn to animal businesses.
Linda Brown....your comment smacks of ignorance on the worst level. You lump all of us into one, horrific group when you clearly do not know what you are talking about. To equate all of us, in my case we raise horses, with the worst there are in our respective fields is simply irresponsible and frankly, stupid. Our animals are loved and well cared for....we take in dozens of rescues at a time...and we stand up against those few in our community who would do harm to or neglect their animals. Apparently along with the "inherently cruel" humans drawn to animal buisnesses ....there are the inherently judgmental, arrogant, and ignorant people like you....who do nothing for the animals in need....you just run your mouth about things you know nothing about.
Hey "AG" we should have "put down" your mother!
Isn't it a fact that those that scream cruel and inhumane treatment the loudest are the ones that have never owned or cared for any of these animals, they know nothing about them. So what do they know of ethical treatment. Yeah I'm sure Kat-788937 could have easily taken in 1 or two sled dogs... NOT!!! What would you use them as lap dogs Kat? Or maybe just let them run around in your yard, that I guarantee you is cruel and inhumane treatment for an animal that is trained and lives for the run and the pack! And this BS that some dogs die every year running, well, so do humans and they do it also for enjoyment, so is it inhumane? NO.. AS for Linda's slaughterhouse remark, how does she expect to get the meat off the hoof and into the freezer? If cows weren't meant to be eaten then steaks wouldn't taste so damn awesome! BTW - Its steak night now at the work camp where I am presently at, gotta go for a juicy T-Bone.
Remember, there is always room for all of Gods Creatures... Right Next to the Mashed Potatoes!
Amen, Linda Brown! A good example of this is the planned return of the Atlantic City diving horse exhibition. It took us years to rid the Jersey shore of that bit of 'fun', and it looks as if we will have to begin all over again soon.
You're right, Linda, and not only does observation and interaction with cruel people in such occupations prove the accuracy of your statements, but also, many comments in this discussion clearly reveal their ignorant, shallow, and soulless natures.
Ken, actually Linda is correct. There are many of us out there that have and would adopt them as pets and "lap dogs" if given the opportunity. Unfortunately they were never given that chance. While the thugs and gangbangers continue to flood the streets and animal shelters with the pit bulls that are such status symbols for their uneducated a$$es, we see tragedies like this for no reason.
And for those animal lovers that take offense to some of the remarks on here, while we appreciate calling out those who do abuse and neglect their animals, it doesn't happen nearly enough. As Americans and citizens of other nations, we always want Muslims to decry and denounce those who would preach hate and harm others, if only some would do the same thing in these cases early enough some wortyh pets would be saved. Just truly sad......
They just got a women where I live with 80 horses. She had them at 2 different places. They were skin & bones. She was only charged with 2 counts of animal cruelty. They should of charged her with 80 counts.
I personally have 6 horses, 2 dogs and 4 cats. All my animals, except 2, were rescued by me. I have two mares who are both 20+ years old, and we still ride them. They love to be ridden. And guess what, when it comes time for them to leave us, they will be buried here on our farm. Domesticated animals, however, are quite different from sled dogs. One of my dogs, who I adopted from the animal shelter, is a Siberian Husky. She is the sweetest dog ever. However, I have to keep her fenced in like an inmate in a jail. She can escape just about anything we put up. My friend has had two Siberian Huskies, and they would tear you apart if you tried going into their yard. So the breed has a tendency to be aggressive as well. Sled dogs, which have been trained for running constantly, would be impossible to keep confined. So how do you expect them to be adopted by anyone? What bothers me are the posters on here soooo upset by the killing of these dogs, yet most of them would help point the gun at a pit bull. My other dog is a pit bull that I rescued. He is also a big baby. My brother has 2, both are just big lazy couch decorations. But most people think the breed deserves to be eradicated.
As we all realize, the animal shelters are full. Where do we expect to put all these dogs? I hate that they are being killed, but Canada needs to put a limit on how many dogs can be used by a tourism company. They need to have breeding monitored. And that goes for the U.S. too. Why hasn't our local animal control monitored the breeding of dogs? All the breeders should be made to have a professional license and be allowed only so many litters per year. There has to be a humane way other than filling up shelters with animals that are only going to be euthanized anyway.
chriscade Your comment really solidifies my point. You would place an aggressive 80 pound dog that eats raw meat and place him on your lap as a pet? You may think you would enjoy this but I can assure you the animal would not! You wouldn't be able to even hold him, these are not cuddle animals and if provokes many of them become very vicious. Sled dog packs are known to act more like wolves than puppies and can be very aggressive, its in there nature. I want to thank you for showing all of us here on proving my point, not all animals are pets, nor can they be made pets after they're grown. AS for the sled dogs, they were culled because they had no where to go, and perhaps the owner of the dogs would have rather ended their life than submit them to a life of small cages or drug dealer guard dogs, thats most likely where they would have ended up, certainly not on anyone's lap hahahahaha
Linda I dare you to be cruel to a hog where I worked. Fastest way out the door unemployed was to be cruel to the hogs before slaughter. Heavens if possible don't even get them upset enough to squeal. Anyone who worked in the livestock area was required to take a class every 6 months in how to handle hogs without upsetting them even if your job was in maintenance and you never handled a hog. Upset hogs at slaughter give poor quality meat. If you didn't have the training you couldn't go near the livestack pens we were even careful outside the building not to spook them. Ken I cuddled a 98% wolf on a regular basis. He loved wrestling if he got too rough I laid face down and he walked away. His 49% wolf son was a regular lover boy of a dog and good with kids small dogs and raised his own kittens( the barn cat died) The kittens were probably the only cats with wolf manners at feeding time ie the alpha eats first.
The scum who did this that claim they had no choice are full of bs.! If someone asks you to kill a living being and you comply it makes you a murderer. Rot in Hell!
So I'm guessing you're a vegetarian, right? And according to the book 'The Secret Life of Plants" they are conscious too! To live in this world you MUST kill to survive. That is just the way it is. If you think that's horrible ask some starving African if they'd mind a steak right now. HUMANS first, animals second.
I've seen this before...someone deplores a specific cruelty to animals, and someone who believes their lifestyle is threatened by it then attacks with, "I suppose you're a vegetarian" and "Do you wear leather shoes?"
Not everyone involves himself in all animal issues, but when someone cares enough about ANY cruelty to animals, congratulate them for it...don't attack them.
BTW, a steak given to anyone who is starving, will make them sick when they eat it. Do some more homework.
Kathryn and MCB: I was unaware sled dogs are part of the food chain.... When I go to the store to purchase a steak I comprehend where it comes from.
Thanks MCB "Not everyone involves himself in all animal issues, but when someone cares enough about ANY cruelty to animals, congratulate them for it...don't attack them....." common sense prevailed. thumbs up.
Fed Up - Your post did state that killing a living being makes one a murderer, so whoever killed your steak committed the crime of murder.
Also, ask anyone with a job whether or not they comply with things that their employer requests, but they vehemently disagree with and most people will tell you they go along with it because they fear losing the job. I imagine in an area where sled dogs are commonplace, there may not be a booming economy robust with alternate employment opportunities.
None of this justifies the way these dogs were killed. If they were put to sleep like one would do to their pet at the vets office, but to shoot them or slit their throats because they were no longer needed is cruel. We don't even do that to the most vicious criminals, why would we do it to a dog?
Fed up you are not of Aleut or eskimo background. When you have to you eat the dogs. I've heard it is a good idea not to eat the liver though toxic levels of vitamin A.
I always knew that Canadians were abusive, homocidal, athiest murders who want to destroy America. NOW the World knows.
This is sarcasm, right? Because obviously no Alaskan would ever cull a sled dog (that was sarcasm).
Maybe culling of a few well-known Canadians and Alaskans would help??
Canada is just waiting to invade the U.S. and convert all of our manufacturing plants to breweries where we will be enslaved to feed their endless lust for BEER!!! Be afraid. Be very afraid.
Well maybe then Wisconsin will have as many brewies as it had when I was a child. As long as no one takes away my Pilsner I'm happy.
Stop victimizing animals just in the name of human sport. I'm sure people enjoy these races very much, but the price is too high. Wrong, wrong.
Actually these were more like tour dogs. If it wasn't for tour companies and Budwieser there wouldn't be a draft horse in the US except for the Amish. And our government rounded up wild horses at the end of the 19th century to be slaughtered by shootimg them. I think last summer my state had to cull the herds of wild burros either shoot them or let them starve because of drought. It isn't pretty sometimes but nature sometimes isn't kind either.
Give them to a shelter and let them kill them.
heh, y'all don't want to know the life of a flock guardian dog then. But realize also that I love PETA...because those dumb monkeys taste just like pork. Mind you had some joker with a peta shirt trying to tell me to not sheer my alpaca and that leaving my caucasian ovcharka out -30F was cruel...that poor sob sure tasted good after I grilled him.
Y'all animal right folk are no better than the people you lambast, shall we bring up the 6 thousand plus animals PETA murders at their no kill shelters and how they NEVER adopt an animal out to non members. sod off you lying turds.
I don't think many people care to hear the truth about PETA, guess that's why you got collapsed.
Mr. Schiffner, don't grenade troll please. You are suspended for a day for violating rule # 1 of the Code of Honor.
I feel real bad for the dogs. But I live in the country and have had alot of dogs dumped on me. The dog pond wouldn't take them so I had to put them down. I makes me sick to put them down. But the people that threw them out on the road should be put down also.
Oh you had dogs that showed up at your mailbox too.My daughter stopped to get the mail and this beautiful male dog jumped in her car and sat there. I called him my parcel post dog. Tramp was a Bernese Mountain dog unfortunately I think his owner had no idea how big he was going to get as a puppy. Slightly smaller than a ST Bernard. Luckily we only had one other dog at the time a female lab named Lady
"The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated."
AG99 has a profoundly utilitarian view of life. All life is measured in money. Life has no intrinsic value save what it makes for an 'owner'. Such attitudes were common among slave owners as well. This ugly, vulgar view of life is deeply crass, pornographic and offensive. Betcha he wouldn't tell his kids or grandkids about this! He and his kind are moral cowards, brutal and savage.
Animals aren't property. They're living beings. If a company can't care for them properly, then they shouldn't have them in the first place.
God you people, AG99, are such savages. Cowards.
If the dogs were no longer needed, and there was no way to "relocate" them then it would not be wrong to kill them in a humane and decent manner. Nothing about throat slitting is humane or decent. That's just disgusting.
No one has a right to kill an animal because it's not useful. That's YOUR view. If you OWN an animal you have an OBLIGATION to care for it REGARDLESS of how much money it makes you. If you can't handle it, then you shouldn't be in the business. Where the hell are people getting this idea that animals are like trucks?
REALLY, I KNOW of MILLIONS OF STARVING PEOPLE IN AFRICA.. SHOULD WE START FEEDING THE WILDLIFE FIRST? Get your head out of your assess folks, Cattle ranchers kill cattle for money, so do sheep, so do hog farms, chicken farms, its a fact of life... stop with this animal lives are worth the same as a human because that's a sick twisted view of the cold hard truth! Your view on FIFI on your lap may seem different but animals ARE here for man's purpose, not the other way around!
It's one thing to kill an animal because of food...even though those animals are treated brutally as well. It's another to trivialize life for sport, to destroy a decent, healthy animal because, after using it to make money, it's no longer paying.
I'm a volunteer EMT. I just got back from responding to a suicide. I'm tired of the trivialization of life that people have. No consideration. No thought. Just dollar signs.
Ken should be ashamed at the lack of human decency in his view. Animals are not 'here for man's purposes'. Such arrogance is truly medieval. And, yes, I have a rescue dog at my house.
Ken, unfortunately based on your mentality and comments, some animals I know are certainly more valuable than you. How arrogant of you to somehow think that Humans are so vaunted and perfect that everything revolves around us. It is pretty pathetic and speaks to how far our society has sunk that idiotic views like yours are more common place than ever.
I have rescued 7 dogs in my 30+ years on this earth and nothing gives me more pleasure to know and see how appreciated they are of the second chance. Much more appreciative of life and the decency that comes with it than low-lifes like yourself. Perhaps the individuals who weren't able to care for these animals should have shot themselves instead and allowed some of us the chance to rescue these animals from the hell that they obviously endured under their ownership. But cowards will be cowards and people like you will pound their chest over how important and superior they are. Inferiorty complex much?????
bob-1008224 & Chris I am also an EMT and A Fireman; I also grew on a farm and yes I have killed many an animal. I do not wish to make one suffer, nor do I enjoy the act of killing; but reality proves its a fact of life, animals sometimes must die! And Chris & Bob, I don't believe you two even understand the article, its about what had to be done with the dogs AFTER they can't afford to keep them! Your viewpoint is strictly you that don't like the owners, maybe cause you don't like the sport.. Bob's comment that the dogs endured Hell is very unfounded, its just another comment that proves he knows nothing about sled dogs or their owners! So you go ahead and kill the owners,,, you're still left with a hundred of half wild dogs! What then? What was your solution? They're NOT PETS! Not one was named FIFI! They would have been culled anyway! HMM what if the owner had a choice, cull the dogs, or take the 10 grand to feed, keep until maybe he found homes... and at the same time not being able pay for his son's college or daughter's wedding, or even his own mortgage? NO animal would ever come before my family for any reason, if you choose a dog's well being over your children then you are a fool.
BOB Ken should be ashamed at the lack of human decency in his view. Animals are not 'here for man's purposes'." You are dead wrong on this comment Bob!
We are morally obligated to care for this planet and its animals yes, but its our god given (and legal) right to use these animals where we need them (even for entertainment) and when. Your words dictate the animals have more privileges and rights than humans, that is hypocritical! And the statement to kill the owners and let the wildlife live.. Remember the theme park where the owner did that very thing? Let out the animals and killed himself. All the animals had to be hunted by police and shot. This is where your logic lies, your both idiots!
And if you can no longer feed it then what. Do you have any idea how much 100 huskies eat in a day? Yeah I know someone like you they took in every lost stray She came to our store and bought carts of pet food. Her husband must have been a saint.
We can't even get rid of grey hound racing in the lower 48 with all the cruelty --and we can't stop the over breeding of the sled dogs and the massive cruelty that follows--and we endorse races (the government) that thinks it's great to make a buck or two knowing that the dogs suffer and some die---we are one screwed up society.
Wish we could hitch the same people that defend this to the sleds and let them run 100 miles a day for two weeks--
Over breeding, puppy mills and backyard breeding are problems-obviousley there are a lot of stupid and cruel people that are unfortunately going to live longer than the dogs they dump,abuse and sell for profit.
Kane the dogs that do that racing are very special not just by training but by their unique metabolism. They are able to somehow adjust their metabolism for exertion and temperature. The Chukchi bred them well. While I would never leave a dog without shelter I have yet to figure out how to get the husky to either stay in the house or quit sleeping on top of the snow drift in a blizzard. Five outbuildings and a dog house and he is sleeping ontop of a snowdrift. Mine decided we needed to go for a two mile walk in a damn blizzard.
Good thing he wasn't sentence to 189 or 163 or 210 or...
MSNBC, please hire an editor. Those of use that have an education are having a hard time reading your stories.
Okeeboy - I agree. The writing has gotten worse and is obviously not written by anyone smarter than a 5th grader.
Oh come on fith graders are smarter than that
people who are cruel to animals will be judged if not in this life then in the next even if you dont believe in god there is judgment waiting for you anyone who hurts animals should have the same happen to them yes i believe in eating meat but there are ways to do that without being cruel there is no shame in some people i love all creatures in this world and there is a place for all of them but humans have taken too much and dont give back i dont love most people
Um lets see, explain to me how we can eat meat and NOT be cruel to from whence it came. I too eat meat, LOTS of meat, and I don't lose one minute of sleep over it. Only those that cannot figure out why they have canine type incisors in their mouths lose sleep and fret over such banal issues. From what I can tell, the dogs were bred and raised by the business, and shooting and throat slitting IS perhaps one of the most humane dispatching methods I can think of. It sure beats being a Black Angus in the stock-yard of Oscar Meyer, smelling the blood, and hearing/seeing the chaos that some cattle make when they KNOW they are soon going to be a Grade AAA rib-eye. Animals are ANIMALS, and just as chickens are bred for slaughter, and just as it's common for farmers to reduce the size of herds they cannot feed, it should also be within the rights of people that use dogs for working functions to reduce the size of their stock, a much it is might pain people whose favorite show is the Westminster Dog Awards. These are not PETS and many would probably tear your arm off if you got too close. Bunny Huggers, you need not respond, you make me laugh too much already.
JP. I know your right, but until you've had to do it. It really sucks.
JP, your analogy to 'food animals' is only valid when we are talking about animals bred for food. To my knowledge, this does not include working animals, such as greyhounds and these sled dogs. People earn livelihood from the training & performance of these animals, thus there is profit in maintaining the well-being of these animals. This usually extends to emotional attachment as well. It says much about us how we treat those creatures who have given their 'all' for us, and I think we do have an obligation to provide something for them after their usefulness has faded. Laws like this are long overdue.
JP except its not a farming business or for working matters its a company profiting off the animals for pure sport and entertainment so your argument is faulted. Thats why the court fined em 75k and gave them jail time.
If you really read the article you would have read these weren't actually racing dogs but the ones who take tourists on tours. Racing dogs are owned and raced by the guy who is out there in the cold for the same 1000 miles with the dogs At every checkpoint they check the dogs and if they aren't fit to continue they are left in the care of the people at the checkpoints. Most teams start out with at least three more dogs than they actually need and if one is hurt on the trail or too tired it will ride on the sled to the next checkpoint. The lead dog and driver have a very special relationship. No they aren't poodles they have a pack psychology and you are the alpha. Learn that psychology and work within it and you and your dog will have a relationship that is special. Nothing is more beautiful than to have a male wolf or husky sing his mating call to you. Once heard you will never forget it.
Frank Rich was sentenced to 180 after pleading guilty to two counts of animal cruelty.
Holy mackerel! Only 150?! I would expected 8000!!!
...wait, is this years or days...typical of MSNBC journalist.
I feel bad , and I recommend that instead of harnessing dogs for one of the most challenging races on the face of the earth - the Iditarod, we instead harness Wayne Pacelle of Humane Society, Ingrid Newkirk and Bruce Friedrich of PETA, as well as the many celebrity folks like Penelope Cruz that "refuse to wear fur" and donate millions so that all the above can rake in millions. Come to think of it, maybe President Obama would like to join in is as well for offending PETA by killing a fly in the White House. After all, a fly is a dog is a cat is a child is a movie star is a President. We're all equal and animals, insects, and smelly fish all have the same rights as people - RIGHT? What a bunch of friggin imbeciles.
LOL!!!! you must be a stand up comedian!!!!!
JP, since you brought it up...the fur industry doesn't wait for fur-bearing animals to die of old age before skinning them. Fur ranchers insert electrodes into the rectums of the animals and electrocute them, so that the fur is not damaged in the 'harvesting' of it. Most, but not all of the time, the animal is dead prior to its fur being ripped off of it. Prior to this end to their miserable lives, they are caged in much the same manner as puppies in puppy mills.
Nice, huh?
JP, you are an idiot plain and simple. Sled dogs are socialized animals as many people have to handle them and are least likely to rip anyone's arm off unless they felt threatened. They are animals bred for their hardiness and social skills, which are a must when it comes to the dog sledding industry, and as such they are raised trusting and loving their human owners, whom they can't wait to please.
I have a feeling that you are nothing more than a hideous excuse of a human being that could care less about any animal or human. So why not just come out and admit it. You don't like animals period. It's okay, everybody has a right to like or not like animals but suggesting dogs, whom have had a close relationship with humans since the beginning of human existence, don't deserve respect and rights, is simply rediculous and ignorant.
A dog recently laid next to it's dead owner in the woods who died of a heart attack, refusing to leave it's dead owner even to the point of almost starving to death. Because of this dog's unwavering loyalty, the owner's body was found and the family had closure. I challenge you to name a single human who would do the same for a fellow human.
A dog in Japan named Hachiko would go to meet it's owner coming home from work, every day at the train station, at the same time every day. The owner died one day but the dog kept coming back every day, rain or shine, sleet or snow, waiting for it's owner to get off the train for years, until Hachiko finally died of old age. There is a statue erected in honor of this amazing dog, Hachiko, because of it's unshakebale love and loyalty. Police dogs and military dogs will die and have died to protect their owners/partners, and when police dogs die in the line of duty they are accorded the same respect and send off as their human partners. I don't know of a single police department that has ever had the need to simply kill off it's "surplus" animals, simply because there are too many. These animals go home with their human partners and become beloved family members. Dogs are not livestock no matter what job they're being used for. They are pets and family members to most dog owners. This does not include the illicit owners who breed dogs merely for financial gain, such as those who run illegal dog fights, "Michael Vick," dog races, sled or otherwise.
Your ignorance and those like you is simply staggering to say the least.
Save it for PETA. I have owned and raced sled dogs, and they are PACK animals. Want to know what happened to most of the military working dogs when we left Vietnam? They were shot. Want to know what oufitters and guides do with surplus dogs that can't work - usually the same. Tell your BS to someone who believes it. Talk about ignorance. Go up and offer a sled dog one of your veggie burgers and see what happens. Voice of reason??? More like Preppie for PETA. Like I said - friggin imbeciles.
It depends JP the same dogs raised outside a pack or in a small pack *stud,bitch and pups of the same litter. can be loving dogs. I've had wolf mixes that wouldn't bite if you took their food away while they were eating. Start as pups treat them firm but right about like the alpha does. Remember male wolves raise their pups in the wild and mate for life. And pick one the opposite sex from the owner and you will have a loyal mate for life with little training other than normal dog training. Love them you'll get it back ten-fold.
Humans are a virus on this earth that uses and kills everything he touches. I'm ashamed. The day we kill off all of us will be a good day for nature!!
You should be ashamed. Those dogs were smarter than you are.
o.k. cathy-3707027 why dont you step right up to the front of the line and we can start with your dumb ass!!!
you first. I'll watch
Their is alot of truth to that. Not everyone wants to be on the road to destruction. Although that may not matter to powers that be.
Well Canadians club baby seals to death, why not a few dogs. Oh, Canada
Ya ! Liberal Canada???
This is sick and cruel. Stop the stupid race.
Did you read the article these weren't actually racing dogs but dog used by a tour company taking people for tours so they can pretend they are great actic travelers? Kind of like riding stable horses.
trashpile, think about what I actually said.....if you can. It's the truth.
hey! okeeboy it is -us- not- use- how is your education now. sentenced to 180 days i presume .he should have gotten at least as much as vick. and he didn't get enough. 189 is a dogs is a dog mill and should not be allowed do any of you. realise how much feed, it takes to feed that many dogs .he was in way over his head he should not be allowed to raise dogs again. we need to shoot the murderes too. instead of keeping prisons full. the bible said an eye for an eye.
I have always thought that the Iditarod protesters were on the wrong track. The real tragedy of dog sled racing is what happens to the "culls" and the dogs that belong to the "amateur" mushers. The coverage of this Whistler story has brought this issue out. People that support sports that include animal athletes (horse racing, greyhound racing, dogsled racing) should know what the consequences are for these animals when they are no longer winning, and they should know about the often inhumane practices involved in producing the animals that compete.
The same is done in the US with race horses and race dogs. Once they have outlived their physical prime, they are destroyed unless someone adopts them. At least the owners of the Iditarod dogs are in loving hands and treated as family. In most cases, the dogs are their entire lives.