Iditarod 2007 Update

Moderator...
Zoretta...your tone is pushing it, and has been for a couple of posts now...tone it down.
 
This seems to have taken a turn towards a discussion of ethics, cruelty, or not,...etc IOW...more of an Advocacy topic than a General Chat topic...so this is being moved there.

I think the point miranadobe has brought up is an interesting one.  I'm glad it's been posted because I know nothing about the sport and this has brought a lot of things up for me that I didn't know.  It's also opened my eyes to a culture I was completely unaware of, the Iditarod doesn't get the coverage over here and I've never paid attention to it or even known it was happening.
 
I posted my feelings on this incident in the Sports and Work thread but I've had time to think about it and I'll answer again here....  I still know very little about the sport or the race so I just hold it against the same standards I do for any other dog sport. 
 
Someone else mentioned border collies and their intrinsic love of working sheep.  I have no problem with dogs being used to work sheep.  I have no problem with contests between shepherds and their dogs.  But if a BC suddenly decided in the middle of a competition that he didn't want to work, I really HOPE that the handler's first reaction would be "S***!  What's wrong with my dog????"  Because of their love of working, a refusal to work means there's something up and surely if you truly value and love the dogs your reaction is concern, not frustration?  Perhaps as an afterthought he might think "Oh no, what will this do to my chances in this competition?"  but that shouldn't be his first reaction and if it led to him lashing out and losing his temper with the dog I would be truly disgusted with the behaviour - even if the dog wasn't hurt or traumatised - just because I think that behaviour is shameful and symptomatic of the wrong attitude.  In addition, it would be that incident and that handler that I was disgusted at - it would only affect how I felt about the use of dogs for working sheep (for work or contests) if others in that community condoned the behaviour.  Does that make sense?  Why can we not apply this same principal to the mushers and dogs used in the Iditarod?  Am I just completely out of touch with the culture.....?  What is it I am not getting?
 
I think I should point out that for a lot of people it is not the use of sled dogs for the purpose that they were bred, it is the ruthlessness they believe that is displayed in the Iditarod.... My understanding is that it is the RACE that people condemn, not the sport?  I am sorry if I got that wrong.

Auburn, that's not the Ramy I know. The report you read may or may not be true. As I said earlier, I'll be talking to Ramy later this week.

Zoretta, apparently you believe anything you read, you have an agenda, and I'm disgusted with it.

Folks:

Yes, the Iditarod can get pretty intense. People have been known to lie about other mushers to get ahead in the game. Scott and I have heard about that happening. I don't know if that's part of what's going with Ramy or not. It's hard to know, since these things happen out in the middle of nowhere. I'm sure he did *something* but I'm guessing more likely it was what was reported by Iditarod officials.

However: Dog abuse is not a part of mushing. Period.

I'm done with this thread as Zoretta is going to continue to post disinformation, insults and lies.

I live here, I know what dog mushing is about. I do not have a team myself because it's expensive, it's a TON of work, and I'm not physically up to it. I still have yet to see where Zoretta has any personal experience of Alaska, not to mention dog mushing.

I sense a very strong PETA flavor to her posts and bet you dollars to doughnuts that's what's her agenda is. BEWARE.

New Hampshire has sled dog races.  The dogs seem to really love it.  They are geared all up and just can not wait to "go".  The mushers are all different kinds of people, but I think for the most part they just all love the time spent out on the ice and snow.  It is historical and the dogs are really used to the job that they do.  I have heard that if there is no snow , these "working" dogs can be depressed.  They like the work out, and the cold. You have to be there and see their faces.  They are just happy.
 
My huskies love to see and no doubt would enjoy skijoring or being hitched up to a sled.  God knows they have the pulling abiltity and do love snow and fun in the snow.
 
The Iditarod is a long haul, but don't they have it set up so there are stops along the way and medical and food and rest are supplied?  There are a bunch of volunteers for it I think.  There are all kinds of people that mush, from various walks of life.

Just for the record, since my comment was taken wrong, there was no implication that anyone was lying on my part.  I KNOW Jeano and some of these other folks and I am more inclined to believe someone I "know" than someone who says someone they know said such and such.  None of the folks here that I reference have ever deliberately mislead anyone so I do tend to think that they are being honest in this case.
 
I also know how things tend to "grow" when passed from one person to another as second hand info.

My step-daughter's husband's sister lives in a little town near Anchorage and she knows a few people who mush for daily transportation.
 
I'm not saying bad things don't happen in extreme circumstances, but these dogs are doing what they were bred and trained to do. In fact, in training, one often has to apply a brake to slow the dogs down and get them to set a pace, otherwise they will work themselves to a frazzle.
 
Also, I don't see how this one questionable incident signifies a need to shut down the event. Would it make any sense to shut down stock car racing just because Jeff Gordon was a punk?
 
Sure, we can fine tune the race but that doesn't mean that there is evil at the heart of the race itsef.

Snownose and Jeano, that was in the Alaska newspaper here is the URL  [linkhttp://www.adn.com/]http://www.adn.com/[/link]

Auburn, thanks...............boy, I guess there is way more to the whole story now. That whole issue has made a left turn.
Now, they are talking kicking, hitting the dogs with a fist, and hitting with a skipole.

I personally have no objections to the Iditarod race.  I don't think dog sledding is inherently tainted, even racing.  If it's wrong simply because it's a competition, what about agility? flyball? even conformation?  People are what ruin things.  I'm sure there are mushers who beat and neglect their dogs, just like there are pet owners who beat and neglect their dogs, or even shelter volunteers who beat and neglect dogs.  I hate to see a cruelty of a few ruin it for everyone else.  Also, I have to always remind myself that these dogs are working athletes.  They would much rather be racing in the snow than couped up in a home being prodded by a toddler and getting maybe a 1/2 mile walk around the block each day.

I hate to see a cruelty of a few ruin it for everyone else. Also, I have to always remind myself that these dogs are working athletes. They would much rather be racing in the snow than couped up in a home being prodded by a toddler and getting maybe a 1/2 mile walk around the block each day.

 
Your post is right on target.
 

[:@]

I don't moderate this part of the forum.  If I did everything after your first paragraph would be deleted as a personal attack.
 
I strongly suggest that you take care of that yourself, Charlie.

No problem, it's gone.
 
I get the feeling you've been tailing me all weekend...lol.  Every time time I post, I check back and you're there!

You following me around?  I'm going to bed soon.
 
Nite Nite..
 
 
 

Don't you just wish?
 
You didn't need to remove the entire post, just the rude part, but thank you.