powderhound
Posted : 3/13/2008 7:29:06 PM
OK, I can't keep quiet. Please take the time to read about the race and the dogs, the information is available online. PETA, Sleddog Coalition, etc, are not reliable sources for information on this topic, the information they put out is INCREDIBLY distorted. There are historical books that are largely unbiased and lay out the facts. The best information--first hand accounts of their own experiences and observations of other mushers--IMO has come from the books written by some of the mushers themselves.
I actually run sleddogs (Malamutes) and have been around dogs who have run the race. I have been around Alaskan Huskies in general and have seen their intensity.
For starters, 96 teams started the race. Presuming everyone started with 16 dogs as is normal, that is 1,536 dogs. We are now at day 13. I GUARANTEE you if you took a sampling of 1,536 dogs in the pet population with age ranges similar to those who run the race (young dogs to old dogs) and track them over the course of 13 days or however long it takes for the race to be over, there will be more than 3 dead dogs--illness, hit by car, freak stuff, age. Since it's not natural to be hit by a car, does that mean no people should drive--it's causing animal deaths isn't it? There are a lot of unnatural deaths, many preventable in a matter of speaking. I have worked in the veterinary field for about 8 years now, the cremation places wouldn't still be in business if only 3 dogs out of 1536 in a 1100 mile stretch died over a 13 day span. Yes, it's really sad that these dogs passed away, no way would I ever want to diminish that and I feel horrible for their mushers, but that number is actually quite impressive in my opinion and showing that the dogs ARE getting looked over and the ones unfit to continue are being removed from the race. While they breeze through some checkpoints with just a quick look, they get complete checks at others. Mushers are the best at seeing there is something wrong with their dogs, they spend more time every week with these dogs than the rest of us do with our housepets. The mandatory rests in the race are not for the mushers, they are for the dogs. There are requirements for equipment and food on the sled: specifically dealing with how much food must be carried per dog.
Dogs are dropped throughout the race for a number of reasons. Some are on the team as youngsters to get experience with a plan to drop them later. Some are on the team because they are exceptional on a certain part of the trail....every dog on every team has its place, success is gained when you can get dogs who complement each other. Once a dog has gotten them through that place they were needed, they're sent home to rest. Females go into season. And perhaps the most non-dog related of the bunch: as they near the end of the race some just want their core 7-10 dogs who are the hardest workers. For every dog you're required to carry 'X' amount of food on the sled. The less extra weight they're pulling, the better. Dogs are dropped for strategy....not just because they aren't fit to continue.
Alaskan Huskies (not to be confused with Alaskan Malamutes or Siberian Huskies, both of which are purebreds) are bred for one thing: to run. They love it. Dogs who don't run are placed with other teams as no serious musher has time to work with a dog who lacks drive. They are typically HORRIBLE pets, far too intense for most people. Heck, they're too intense for me, I've only ever met ONE I could stand owning.
On the mals I knew who ran the race: they lived on average 3 years longer than the dogs in the kennel who were not so heavily trained. They ran in the team much longer than their kennelmates, becoming puppy trainers in their later years.