Head of B.C. task force: Sled dogs ‘aren’t pets,’ can be killed

Pet Connection.Com
By Christie Keith
February 18, 2011

If you thought the fate of the 100 sled dogs who were slaughtered in British Columbia would mean a better day ahead for dogs, think again.

Instead of learning from the tragedy, instead of understanding that yes, sled dogs can be and frequently are adopted into pet homes, instead of acknowledging that death — whether it’s from a bullet to the head, a knife to the throat, or a syringe full of Fatal-plus – is not an acceptable canine retirement plan, the task force assigned to investigate the killings is turning its back on Canada’s working sled dogs.

Task force head Terry Lane, a veterinarian and past vice-president of the World Small Animal Veterinary Association as well as currently an elected official representing Kamloops-North Thompson in the B.C. legislature, had this to say to The Canadian Press:

Lake speculated the task force could end up recommending tighter rules and regulations to govern B.C.’s sled dog industry.

He said the task force will also review the gruesome ways in which the dogs died and likely recommend guidelines for more humane methods of destroying working animals.

“In over 20 years of practise, I probably have euthanized hundreds of animals, and, of course, in an acceptable and humane way,” Lake said. “These are not pet dogs we are dealing with, and so the method of euthanasia in a veterinary office is not the only humane method of euthanasia. I think that’s an important thing to say.”

You know what, Mr. Lane? It’s a stupid thing to say. It’s a false thing to say. It’s a steaming pile of crap. You should be removed from this task force for having given up on these dogs before your investigation even began. You make me sick. Your fellow veterinarians should turn their backs on you when you walk in the door.

I shouldn’t really be all that surprised; the president of the British Columbia SPCA is on the task force, too — you know, the organization that said these dogs weren’t adoptable, without having ever seen or evaluated a single one of them? Who said if they’d been brought into the case earlier, they’d have killed them, too?

But, you know… humanely.

I could understand, barely, that the sled dog tour company took the attitude that the dogs were just livestock and could be disposed of when their usefulness was at an end. I didn’t like it, I didn’t agree with them, but it at least had some kind of rational framework I could grasp.

But this? Veterinarians and animal welfare officials talking about how these dogs aren’t pets and as long as they’re killed less horrifically than the way Robert Fawcett did it, that’s okay? But don’t worry, it doesn’t even have to be in a veterinarian’s office to be humane.

And it’s the mushers and sled dog tour operators you think need regulation? It sounds to me like this task force needs regulation. What do you think?

http://www.petconnection.com/blog/2011/02/18/head-of-b-c-task-force/
Photo: Some “unadoptable” sled dogs enjoying their retirement with Jo Jacques of Salem, Mass. But remember… these aren’t pets.