The following letter to the editor was published in the March 9, 2007 Yukon News:

'Quest kills'

Elaine Taylor, Minister of Tourism and Culture, how can your department support an organization that killed three dogs this year and injured many others? How can your department support an organization whose response to the issue of culling unwanted dogs was that it was not the Quest's concern what Quest mushers did to their dogs?

And Marian Horne, Minister of Justice, I understand work is being done on a new Yukon Animal Protection Act. Will this legislation include protection and define guidelines for high standards of care for sled dogs used in the Quest, by sled-dog tour operators and recreational mushers? Who is being consulted to develop this legislation?

Would a race like the Quest be considered inhumane in North American states and other provinces?

Patrick Rouble, Minister of Education, you do not have my permission as a Yukon taxpayer to sanction the teaching of Yukon Quest propaganda to schoolchildren. If you must teach about the Quest, you should teach about the suffering and deaths of the dogs, their lives in the dogyards, and the fact that dogs are culled to develop the perfect racing team.

Jim Kenyon, minister responsible for Yukon Lotteries Commission, I realize the Quest gambles with the lives of sled dogs. Therefore, lotteries should not be assisting in this gambling addiction.

To all Yukon politicians: I expect some hard questions to be asked during the spring sitting of the Yukon Legislature, instead of the mindless tributes offered to the Quest every year, especially in a year where three dogs were killed for the sake of Yukoners' entertainment.

Yukon Quest officials do not answer to any criticisms unless they have a microphone shoved in their face and they have no choice. I expect a higher level of accountability from Yukon politicians.

The Yukon will be judged by reality, not by slogans or a million banners.

Mike Grieco,
Whitehorse