03-10-2020, 06:16 AM
It is the season of the Iditarod dog race in Alaska. The race commemorates a mercy run where sled dogs were used to transport diphtheria serum to Nome Alaska to save people from an epidemic.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iditarod_T...d_Dog_Race
One thing to note is that the dogs did the original run as a relay race. It was also a life and death emergency.
Now the route is run as a continuous race with the dogs running the whole distance.
Commemorating the event and honouring the dogs makes sense. However, the Iditarod is a gruelling race where dogs are killed and injured. Many don't make it. Those who do survive really suffer during the race and after.
PETA has come up with a list of reasons why the race should be stopped.
https://www.peta.org/features/these-reas...-outraged/
All the reasons for stopping the race are good.
It certainly does nothing to honour the dogs who ran the original trail. It is part of an industry that uses and abuses dogs.
Dogs are over used to the point of injury and excess dogs are killed regularly in the dog sledding industry.
When they are not being used they are given a bare minimum of care or rather lack of care.
Maybe dog sledding is like a lot of other "animal industries". It is time we stopped doing it. We don't want more circus animals.
The various horse drawn carriages for tourists are gradually being shut down. Now it is time to end dog sledding. It isn't needed and the dogs are not well cared for. In its own way the Iditarod race is a form of animal slaughter. This year needs to be the last race and the dogs need to be retired.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iditarod_T...d_Dog_Race
One thing to note is that the dogs did the original run as a relay race. It was also a life and death emergency.
Now the route is run as a continuous race with the dogs running the whole distance.
Commemorating the event and honouring the dogs makes sense. However, the Iditarod is a gruelling race where dogs are killed and injured. Many don't make it. Those who do survive really suffer during the race and after.
PETA has come up with a list of reasons why the race should be stopped.
https://www.peta.org/features/these-reas...-outraged/
All the reasons for stopping the race are good.
It certainly does nothing to honour the dogs who ran the original trail. It is part of an industry that uses and abuses dogs.
Dogs are over used to the point of injury and excess dogs are killed regularly in the dog sledding industry.
When they are not being used they are given a bare minimum of care or rather lack of care.
Maybe dog sledding is like a lot of other "animal industries". It is time we stopped doing it. We don't want more circus animals.
The various horse drawn carriages for tourists are gradually being shut down. Now it is time to end dog sledding. It isn't needed and the dogs are not well cared for. In its own way the Iditarod race is a form of animal slaughter. This year needs to be the last race and the dogs need to be retired.
Catherine