Don't glorify barbaric dog sled races

Letter

Thursday, August 23, 2007

Re: Mushing the Jamaican Way, Westcoast News, Aug. 20

Reporter Phil Couvrette should have done a bit of homework about the Yukon Quest before writing the promotional article about a Jamaican dog musher training for the 2009 version of this barbaric event.

The Yukon Quest ("the toughest sled dog race in the world" is the organization's motto; it's certainly tough on the dogs that are injured and killed in the race) should not be glorified or promoted by responsible media sources.

The Quest, like the better known Alaskan Iditarod, is only allowed to be staged because of the weak animal protection laws in the Yukon and Alaska. Most sled dogs live their lives at the end of a short chain, and unwanted dogs (including puppies) may be inhumanely killed when their services (as racing dogs and/or sled dog tour dogs) are no longer required. Quest dogs are forced to run up to (and over) 160 kilometres a day in extreme conditions for the better part of two weeks.

Terry Cumming

Web administrator

SledDogWATCHDOG.com

Whitehorse, Yukon
© The Vancouver Sun 2007