IS THE IDITAROD CRUEL TO DOGS - Page 3

 Ah yes, the Grinch's dog!  I knew him well!  IIRC he was a doxie/ chihuahua mix, non?

LOL

Now, that Grinch he was a cruel musher!  And then the darn horn tied to the poor dogs head, where was the Peta crew on that movie set!

Then we Cuba Gooding bitting dogs on the ears, no wonder those sled dogs are untrainable!

The  Ct Siberian Husky Club races had a number of Shepherds which ran on teams. They also had a brace of Pitts who raced in the 2 dog competition and the 1 dog sprint.   My Shilo (GSD) loved the sport.

PETA and other simular groups have tried to make horseback riding, Drafting, Dog sled racing all illegal... and I betcha they're against those pig races at the fairs also.

  The Iditirod is a rough race, an endurance race, just like a number of cross country horse trials go 100 miles or more.  Personally I don't want the farout "rights" groups making rules about pets sports.  If the sport is not inherently meant to harm animals... such as Bull fighting  or Dog Fighting where "success" is measured by the injury of the animal... I do not feel that laws should be made against them. I'd rather see individuals who act badly prosecuted for the injury they create.  

     You would think that you wrote about your "beloved mulecog' staffordshire terrier, you would know the breed! Oh, That's right, YOU WOULDN't know a purebred dog if it bit you in the ass!!Oh, .....THAT's right....YOU HAVE NO ASS...
or D$#& either!
       Oh, I forgot, you bred pure Siberian Shepards last year....This year you got 2 pure(????)bred huskies, YOU ARE SO GOOD WITH THE PHOTO'S, you announced they were coming, WHERE IS THE PICS of the new babies, Where's the pics of this NEW DDR puppy you got in the scranton area, loser123...


     GET OFF MY ASS !!!!!! you obsessive LOSER!!!!!

My feeling on this is one that has already been stated...if the dogs are properly conditioned, and love to do it, then let them...

With regards to what the animal liberators have to say on that...we all know that they feel that keeping domesticated animals is akin to dog fighting, so of course any type of sport, from dog racing and hunting to Schutzhund, is cruel and should be stopped.  No sense putting any stock at all in the ramblings of a bunch of nuts.

That said, there has to be a line between fun and the overwhelming desire to win.  Nothing is so important as to risk your very life for it, and in any race, there can only be one winner.  So they need to have fun, be careful, and know when to sit out the storm. 

Crys

To repeat the original run which was to save lives is one thing, a part of history.
To turn it into a competition was wrong, and thats where the possibility of needless injury is born.
Nature is hard enough without any help from man.

 

As with any activity regarding a dog and his or her owner, it is up to the owner to ensure the dogs safety and comfort.  All dogs deserve to enjoy life and do things that make them happy provided it does not endanger the well being of people or other animals.  Many dogs enjoy the race and it has been around for many many years.  Cartoons and movies have been made based on this sport.  Usually there is a special bond between these dogs and their owners.  Usually the dog lives to race again and are happiest when partaking in the sport.  Eight Below is an amazing movie that is based on the sport and the antarctic exploration.  This movie highlights how these dogs are able to endure the hardships in this type of climate on their own and still survive for almost a year on their own.  Snow Dogs was another movie that showed the special bond between these dogs and their owners. 

The treatment from the owner will determine cruel treatment. 

Different breeds develop reputations based on how their owners raise them.  Albeit some dogs are naturally vicious but that is either genetically bred or caused by the treatment of the owner.  For example, pittbulls are considered vicious as are chow chows but not all are this way.  I have met many who are not vicious.  In most cases the ones who are vicious were trained to be vicious.

So in essence I dont believe this race is cruel to the animal so long as the owner puts the well being of the dog as a priority.

Lets see how well they would do without the backup systems.
Survival of the fitest.   Raise the stakes.
Then see how well they take care of themselves and their animals.
Do it the same time of year as the original run.
Less race, more test.

Thats right,
Each depends on the other to survive.