Sled Dog Watchdog - Feedback 2

'We are appalled at how you abuse animals'

"Howl" for Yukon sled dogs! Speak out against Yukon Territory sled dog abuse and exploitation!

Within the last year, visitors to the ‘Daily WatchDog’ news page (on the Animal Advocates Society of
British Columbia’s website) have become increasingly aware of the plight of (dogs used as) sled dogs who
live in our neighbouring Territory, Canada ’s Yukon .

We are aware that the few local activists who speak up for sled dogs practically never receive responses
from the main supporters of what we as an animal advocacy society, view as being sled dog
abuse/exploitation. (We are specifically referring to the Yukon Quest International Sled Dog Race and the
Territorial tourism department).

We are aware that unknown numbers of Yukon residents are afraid to speak up in a public forum on
behalf of the dogs.

We are aware that a good many of your citizens (including Yukon businesses and governments) actively
support this perceived cruelty.

And just what exactly are the specific allegations of cruelty we are concerned about?

To start with, whether we are referring to Yukon Quest mushers, sled dog tour operators, hobby
mushers, or First Nations people who mush dogs, most sled dogs in the Yukon live most of their lives at
the end of short chains next to shabby plywood dog houses which would barely keep them warm in the
winter.

We are aware that most of these mushers have no lifelong commitments to their faithful dogs (many of
them, including puppies, are apparently sold, given away or culled/killed because of this irresponsible
breeding).

We are shocked that Tourism Yukon and other government departments, the City of Whitehorse , and
some First Nations governments support and promote an organization like the Yukon Quest, especially in
light of the Quest not being concerned over the issue of dog culling by Yukon Quest mushers (who are
primarily residents of the Yukon and Alaska ).

How many dogs have been injured and killed in the 24 years (to this date) that the Quest has been run?
We know that three dogs - Jewel, Hope and Melville - were killed in the 2007 race alone.

We are concerned that the Yukon Quest is promoted to school children in Yukon classrooms and that
Yukon media (especially CBC Yukon) have given the Quest an ‘easy ride’ for so many years.

We are also appalled at your Territory’s abysmal animal protection laws and negligible enforcement, with
stories such as the Beaver Creek cat colony, the 74 dogs who were shot near Dawson City in 2006, and
the neglect of some your territory’s horses, some of whom fend for themselves through Yukon winters
(your Humane Society Yukon was started in 1987 because of a Yukon outfitter allowing his horses to
starve to death).

For all these reasons, we are asking our many worldwide supporters to speak up for Yukon sled dogs
(and other animals) by letting Tourism Yukon and Yukon businesses know that they will think twice
before making plans to visit your Territory (we hear that the Yukon, animal welfare aside, is a very
beautiful place).

BC Animal Advocates are proud to help speak up for mistreated animals, wherever they may live.

Judy Stone
Animal Advocates Society of British Columbia
http://AnimalAdvocates.com
Vancouver
[Letter to editor published in Whitehorse Daily Star and Yukon News, December, 2007]

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'I protest this degrading public harassment!'

I'm compelled to write to you regarding your seeming support of public bullying of dog mushers.
Although I understand that you editorial space is meant to provide a soapbox for all opinions, I must
protest enabling the cruel and degrading public harassment of innocent members of our community.

I write, of course, in regards to letters you've published from folks who feel that by throwing rocks at dog
mushers, they can somehow stop the animal cruelty in their own back yards. The latest rehashing of the
Heynen tragedy, a 20-year old crime for which hefty penalties were levied by the Yukon government,
(oops, they forgot that part) is a deliberate attempt to slander the Yukon people.

The writer (Star letters, Dec. 11) also quotes a statement about that crazy American outside of Dawson
who hoarded dogs, then killed them when he knew the police were coming to take them away. Oops, she
kinda overlooked that portion of the story too, how convenient! But I pass the blame for that oversight ot
our local activists who omit these details to serve their needs.

These activists occasionally run display ads showing a photograph of a dog musher coaxing his pooches
out from under his truck during the hustle and bustle of a race start. This photo bears a caption that leads
one to believe that this man is dragging the dogs out from under his truck to beat the livin' daylights out
of them. I recall that manipulative fiction, false advertising and fraud.

Were I the musher featured in these photos, I'd sure sue the butts off for slander. Did they obtain a
signed release from the person in the photo prior to publication as an advertising model? I suspect not.
It's glaringly obvious that these so-called advocates have no interest in truth or facts and have no
education about domestic animals and their origins.

Worse, they feel that by attacking some of the finest examples of responsible dog ownership, they can
stop animal cruelty. How they make this connection, I don't know. We owe dog mushers huge thanks for
preserving the sled dog for future generations to enjoy and as a biable alternative to non-Earth friendly
methods of travel.

When was the last time these people saw a draft horse? Since they motorized the streetcars, said
magnificent animals have been disappearing, as they're no longer needed or valued. Their only purpose
now is to produce urine for hormone replacement therapy. Once science figures out how to produce
hormones withour pregnant horse pee, they'll be gone forever because that's reality.

The facts are that without dog mushing, there would be no huskies, plain and simple. But their purpose is
to eliminate the breed? Or ban husbandry of domestic animals in general?

A.A.S. mission statement:

"We believe that no animal should be manipulated, hurt, or confined in order to serve a human want -
whether for amusement, profit, sport, research, food, or education."

Chris Caldwell
Artist and animal lover
Whitehorse
[Letter to editor published in Whitehorse Daily Star, Friday, December 14, 2007 - her letter was also
published in Yukon News the following week]

[Ed. Note - the 'Heynen case' Ms. Caldwell speaks of resulted in the horse neglect/cruelty
charges (not surprisingly) being dropped by legal authorities in the Yukon Court system]

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'Howling response'

This is in response to the recent letter to the editor by Chris Caldwell, regarding her perceived “public
bullying” of Yukon dog mushers by local animal advocates like myself, and by Judy Stone at the Animal
Advocates Society of British Columbia. I had given serious thought to the fact that Caldwell’s numerous
poorly substantiated statements were not worth a response, but due to her accusations that dog mushers
were being “slandered,” I must take issue and respond.

With regard to the infamous photo I took of three scared-looking Yukon Quest dogs chained to a dog
truck shortly before the start of the 2007 Quest, the man’s (musher or handler) identity is not
distinguishable because it was taken from behind and only the right side of his body can be seen.
However, were I a participant in a race in which three dogs were killed and many more were injured, run
while ill (and run past the point of exhaustion), I would have wanted my face blurred out or to have been
wearing a balaclava in order to mask my identity.

Let us remember that the Yukon Quest is a professional event that receives public money and if these
people need to conceal their involvement, they should stop participating and volunteering.

I must also inform Caldwell that if she dismisses at hand, allegations of cruelty in the dog mushing/sled
dog racing industry from animal rights people, perhaps she will pay attention to the few ‘industry insiders’
who have bravely made their own criticisms.

I speak of Yukon Quest veteran musher Frank Turner who, immediately prior to the 2007 Quest, brought
up the issue of dog culling by Quest mushers.

I speak of “four-time Iditarod finisher” John Suter, who widely circulated letters to the editor about
Iditarod musher Ramy Brooks “beatin’ the livin’ daylights” out of his entire dog team in the 2007 Iditarod
( http://www.animalperson.net/animal_person/2007/10/chime-in-regard.html ).

Suter wrote his letter in specific response to the “much-needed equal run/equal rest” rule, stating that
Brooks “did not do anything differently (using corporal punishment on his dogs) from all the other top
(Iditarod) mushers” — only that Brooks was caught “motivating his dogs,” in order to be competitive.

Caldwell should also read the scathing criticism of the Quest from the people at Seppala Sled Dogs, and
also an elegantly written treatise about “ responsible sled dog breeding, training and ownership " by
similar knowledgable sources.

I also question Caldwell’s claim as an animal lover.

I thumbed through her recently published book and saw a cartoon depicting two huskies whose 'bums
were stuck together' on a Whitehorse street. The cartoon shows a couple of “Townies” (as she calls them)
being concerned about the situation, while “real Yukoners” snicker in the background (irresponsible dog
breeding is not very funny, Caldwell).

I also saw a cartoon that was apparently done for a retiring conservation officer, showing the officer
throwing a wolf (with all kinds of monitoring equipment attached to its collar) out of a Piper Cub.
Hilarious!

Caldwell, your love toward animals, like most Yukon Quest supporters, ends at the hearts of your own
dogs (if you have any).

I thank the editors of the two Whitehorse newspapers for publishing public comment from both sides of
the dog-mushing debate.

To all Yukoners, if you are thinking about getting a dog, please give thought to giving a good home to
retired sled dogs and shelter dogs.

In the words of my good friend Mike Grieco, “Praise all the animals!”

Terry Cumming
SledDogWatchdog.com
Whitehorse
[Letter published in ONLINE VERSION of Yukon News, December 21, 2007 - this letter was also sent to
the Whitehorse Star but was not published by the editor]

P.S. about this letter, cc'd to the special allies of SledDogWatchdog.com:

I, as web administrator of the SledDogWatchdog website/group would like to make clear the policies on
the web site towards dog mushing. In this letter, I refer to an 'elegantly-written treatise' on the Seppala
Sled Dogs blog. It must be pointed out this is providing that those who care about animals would firstly
accept the fact that sentient beings like 'sled dogs' are ours to use for work/money/ entertainment. It
would be a paltry few dog mushers (not one Yukon Quest or Iditarod musher) who could live up to the
standards of care espoused in the article.

With regard to whether the Yukon Quest or Iditarod (or similar events) should be allowed to exist in the
21st Century, I would have to say a flat "no" - the events are based on a perverted history of northern dog
mushing (running dogs up to 125 miles a day in extreme cold for the better part of two weeks, while the
dogs pull a heavy burden - including dog mushers who are often 'asleep at the wheel'). The races have no
right to harm so much as one toenail of one dog, let alone cause the horrific deaths and injuries inflicted
on dogs. EXTREME 'ATHLETIC EVENTS' SHOULD NOT INVOLVE ANIMALS.

Terry Cumming