Wonderful News!! Now it is time to get all the other sponsors to stop supporting the "exploitation", injuring, and the killing of dogs!!
A letter to the sponsors is now in order for the Dogs...Time to kill the Quest! Past time!
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
2008 Campaign for Yukon Sled Dogs [Campaign #2]: Message to Yukon Quest race sponsors
SAMPLE LETTER [Send this one or even better, write one of your own]
To: Yukon Quest race sponsors and supporters
Subject: Please DO NOT sponsor or support Yukon Quest sled dog cruelty.
As a person who cares deeply about the exploitation and cruelty to which Yukon Quest sled dogs are
subjected, I ask that you, in the best spirit of humane ethics, immediately discontinue your sponsorship
and support of this barbaric race, which brings shame to the Yukon Territory.
The Yukon Quest proudly bills itself as 'the toughest sled dog race in the world.' It certainly has been
tough on all the dogs who have suffered and died over the years (how many will die in the '25th running'
of the race in 2008?).
For your information, here are some statistics about the 'second toughest' sled dog race in the world, the
Alaskan Iditarod:
Little information about negative aspects regarding the health of Yukon Quest dogs has been published.
However, in 2002, a study in the in American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine reported
that 81% of the 59 dogs they examined after one Iditarod had "abnormal accumulations" of mucus or
cellular debris in their lower airways. In addition to fluid in the lungs, bleeding stomach ulcers occur, as
does general cramping, dislocations, fractures, muscle and tendon tears, tendonitis, dehydration,
hypothermia, raw paws, penile frostbite and viruses. Female dogs may run while 'in heat' or during
pregnancy; it is common for dogs to vomit or suffer from diarrhea from the extreme stress (including
from their body temperatures overheating) they are forced to undergo, while running long distances.
Another important negative aspect to consider it that the existence of the Quest encourages ill-prepared
and ill-suited prospective mushers to develop their own kennels for purposes of competing in the race,
causing more suffering to innocent dogs. Yukon Quest and Iditarod mushers do not deserve to be held up
as 'role models' for young mushers because of their overall treatment of dogs during the races and
throughout the rest of the year. A famous female Iditarod musher stated that she had "raised 300 dogs to
get five good ones." A lot of terrible cruelties surround the world of the Yukon Quest and Iditarod -
cruelties that happen out of the public eye which cause harm to sled dogs, things that would turn the
average dog lover off of supporting these events.
http://sleddogwatchdog.com/yukonquest_yukon_disgrace.html
Three dogs were killed in the 2007 Yukon Quest, as dogs have died throughout the years the race has
been run. Dogs die year round to feed the Yukon Quest 'doggie meat grinder'. 2007 Quest race marshal
Mike McCowan told media that the issue of dog culling (the discarding and killing of unwanted dogs
including puppies) was 'not [the Quest organization's] business,' in response to a veteran Yukon Quest
musher asking the Quest require prospective competitors to disclose that they "do not cull dogs" in order
to compete in the race.
As sponsors and supporters of this race, you are, in part, responsible for the suffering and death of the
sled dogs who are forced to run, and you also contribute to the irresponsible breeding of dogs by Yukon
Quest competitors or prospective Quest mushers, very few of whom have ever demonstrated a lifelong
commitment to their dogs.
Please, on behalf of the dogs, stop sponsoring this disgraceful event.
[Please let sponsors know who you are and where you are writing from]
[Cut and paste the following email addresses into the 'To' field of your email program]
info@ycb.ca,mayorcouncil@whitehorse.ca,business@whitehorsechamber.ca,president@yukonchamber.co
m,web@cityofdawson.ca,michael@alaskacoffeeroasting.com,alpine@polarcom.com,goldenhill@yknet.ca,gl
ainfo@hollandamerica.com,jmacphail@klondikecopier.com,greg@harper-street.com,editor@northofordina
ry.ca,info@yukonharley-davidson.com,info@yukon-pump.com,info@fullmetalminerals.com,info@selwynr
esources.com,jim.shriver@findmespot.com,warmwear@akgear.com,webmaster@kl7kc.com,chenahs@pol
arnet.com,john.whitehorse@fraserway.com,info@highcountryinn.com,staff@ncstraining.com,info@santas
stitches.com,djcastle@petrostar.com,sales@trademarkalaska.com,info@westerncoppercorp.com,mferguso
n@hollandamerica.com,jporter@hollandamerica.com,customerservice@nwtel.ca,office@flyairnorth.com,m
ichael@whitepass.net,yngc@yngc.ca,communications@yukonenergy.ca,aklodges@princesscruises.com,cof
fee@midnight-sun-coffee.com,edgewater@northwestel.net,cynthia.malchow@atco.com,manager@yes.yk.
ca,info@yukoninn.com,info@yukonbeer.com,vocmayor@northwestel.net,ckrwcopy@ckrw.com,info@,web
servicesgroup@marks.com,info@latitudewireless.ca,webmaster-e@transcanada.com,star@whitehorsestar.
com,chocolateclaim@northwestel.net
Cc:
elaine.taylor@gov.yk.ca,yla@gov.yk.ca,vacation@gov.yk.ca,arthur.mitchell@yla.gov.yk.ca,todd.hardy@yla
.gov.yk.ca,cbcnorth@cbc.ca,bagnell@parl.gc.ca,terman@volunteerbureau.yk.ca,jim.kenyon@gov.yk.ca,lot
teriesyukon@gov.yk.ca