Iditarod disgrace

[RebelOne]

"Iditarod disgrace: As death toll of dogs rises, so does the race's purse."

Columnist Jon Saraceno opens:

"I'm all for mutiny. Dog mutiny, that is".

"When it comes to the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog race, how do we get more of our furry friends to lie down on the job? If they belonged to a union, there would be a strike every March when the 1,100-mile marathon of dog misery
is propelled by more than 1,000 members through the treacherous Alaskan wilderness.

"In that labor dispute, I would be all for the stressed-to-the-max dogs. They are overworked and underpaid. The money and the glory go to management -- in this case, mushers and their sponsors.

"Why does Alaska permit the 'Ihurtadog?'

"Easy. Commerce -- shameless, bloody business carried out on the backs of man's best friends."


Read the rest of story at link below.

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/columnist/saraceno/2004-03-14-saraceno_x.htm

[kurtyboy]

1. For years I called the race,

"Ikilledadog" I don't know if these pooch's hearts are truly into running on the brink of destruction so their mushers can earn wealth and endorsements (from folks who grind other, less sentient beings like sheep into food for the huskies).

I'm no PETA pal, but dogs are fellow brothers and sisters in this old world, and I hate to see 'em hurt.

[khashka]

2. I hate the fucking Iditarod

Ok what it's based on is kinda cool.

But I lived in Alaska for many years and it just sickened me. Does anyone really know how many dogs die? I remember one year when a newspaper said "only five of her dogs died" as if that in itself was a victory! Only five dead dogs! What an incredible sportsman! She only managed to kill five of the ones who actually did the work. Woohoo! Can you say "champion" boys and girls?

If we really wanna honour the trip to Nome (and it's worthy of honour) a better way would be going down to the pound and adopting a dog and trying to give it a decent life.

What always got me was the interviews. "I raised this puppy from birth and it died for me! How else can you define love?" Well, possibly, maybe, just as a suggestion, not driving something to death that loves you? Just maybe?

Oh and death is the nuclear arsenal of argument. So let's skip it. What about injury and frostbite and hunger? How many dogs lose paws from frostbite? Ever seen a husky in skiboots? No? Duh!

Oh I don't wanna tar everyone with the same brush (which is why I get a lot of shit here). Some racers try very hard to protect their pups. They protect their paws, use enough that none of them get too tired, and end the race with happy, fun, cool dogs. Funnily enough most of them are women. But they don't win and rarely place. Still, they did it and did it in the coolest possible way. But no one knows who they are. And the coolest possible way ain't all that cool.

I have great respect for people who can go to the limit. But when they force animals to do it - through love or sometimes fear - I have no respect.

Walk to Nome you sick bastards! And if you can do it, you'll have my undying respect. Get dragged there by dying dogs and you'll earn my undying enmity.

And don't tell me about how much you loved the dogs you killed to get a medal. That's not love. It's greed.


Khash.

[thingfish]

3. If you REALLY want to torture those dogs...

...cancel the Iditarod.