Sled Dog Watchdog - Exploiting the image

In the Yukon, a large amount of money and energy is invested in the Yukon Quest by the Yukon
territorial government (the tourism department is a major race sponsor), private businesses and
individuals, and by race volunteers. Many Yukon businesses serve the sled dog industry and profit from
the labours of working sled dogs, including Yukon Quest dogs, who are used as sources of entertainment
for northerners. Proportionately, very little money is invested in improving the conditions in which many
of these dogs live and there is little concern on the part of government about the health of the dogs being
forced to run in the Quest. This lack of concern does not only apply to the welfare of Yukon Quest dogs,
but to the dog yards of some hobby mushers, sled dog tourism operators, and 'dog collectors.' In a letter
to a local newspaper in 2005, I referred to some of these dog yards as 'canine gulags,' which is a perfectly
apt description.

The sled dog business is a growing industry in the Yukon with several sled dog tourism operations
springing up in the last few years. Outside of the city limits of Whitehorse, there are absolutely no
regulations stipulating the proper way to treat and house sled dogs. There is no restriction on the amount
of dogs a tourist operation may own. It is worrisome that without any regulations, the provision of proper
housing and general dog care may be of secondary importance to the actual collecting of the dogs who
will 'earn their keep' pulling sleds or carts for tourists, winter and summer. Should a business fail, there
may be little or no refuge available for the dogs who are no longer needed.

Recently, the organizing committee for the 2007 Canada Winter Games in Whitehorse, which will be
jointly hosted by Canada's northern territories, chose 'husky mascots' to represent each of the three
jurisdictions. The games committee also decided upon a 'dog mushing logo' for promotional purposes.
The Yukon Territory, NWT, and Nunavut have shameful records for providing animal protection laws
along with the necessary personnel to enforce them. Because of this, there is much suffering inflicted on
real husky-type sled dogs and northern dogs. Dog mushing was under consideration as a 'demonstration
sport' for the 2006 Winter Olympics and mushing proponents continue to lobby for its inclusion as an
official sport. This would undoubtedly exponentially increase the number of people who will be motivated
to take up competitive mushing, and will attract untold suffering on the dogs who will be drafted into
bringing glory to existing and new mushers.

UPDATE 1:

The money-grubbing cowards at the Yukon Quest have abandoned heading up their 'own quest' for an
expensive permanent dog mushing arch/monument close to the traditional Yukon Quest starting line near
the end of Main Street in Whitehorse. But 'never fear' as the RCMP Auxiliary has stepped in to complete
this vital project that is estimated to cost several hundreds of thousands of dollars and to create
employment for at least three local carvers who will take a year-and-a-half to complete the masterpiece.

The RCMP Auxiliary is a logical choice to manage the project as apparently the RCMP, like their Yukon
Quest allies, apparently have a history of killing sled dogs themselves.

UPDATE 2: Sanity reins as it was reported in the Whitehorse Star that the project is 'on ice' indefinitely!