Letter to the Editor
Whitehorse Star and Yukon News
Re: Animal Rights?
Date: Thursday, 9 Aug 2007

The Jamaica Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (JSPCA),"the only animal rights organization reconized by the Government of Jamaica."--Danny Melville (Star, July 30.)Founder Jamaica Dogsled Team.

"We strive towards improvement of conditions at pounds and abattoirs, as well as the race track and riding establishments in Jamaica."--(JSPCA web site.) Bingo ! The JSPCA is not a "animal rights" organization.

"Real" animal rights organization do not support the "exploitation" of nonhuman animals,i.e: breeding/producing, slaugtering them for food, using them for entertainment ,like taking advantage of their ability to run. Animals should have the "right" not to be the property of another to do as they wish.

Anyone or organiztions that try to eduacte children on animal issues should be making the distinction between "animal rights", and "animal wefare", they are very,very different in both theory and practice. Otherwise you are misleading the children as they form their views on life.

Therfore you cannot say you are promoting "animal rights" while at the same time you are "exploiting" them. Period.

Mr.Melville said the Jamaica Dogsled Team "mutts", "practically fly" (Star, July 30) Wow! That's astounding. What are they bred with now, birds ?

The Jamaica dogs will not be coming to the Yukon? Good, sadly we have animal stories/news that CBC Yukon helps to "exploit," joke, and laugh about.

As taxpayers, we sure would like to know if and how much 'Tourism and Culture Yukon' contributed to wine and dine Mr.Melville and Devon Anderson (Jamaica dog musher) on "our money." As if $ 200,000 is not enough money to keep the 'Great Yukon Quest' alive.

Mike Grieco
Whitehorse
YT

P.S Perhaps C.B.C Radio Yukon can do a story for the National audience about the on going crisis with respect to cats in Beaver Creek Yukon. And then a "reality" story on the mushing "industry."