The Iditarod is a barbaric race that deserves condemnation, not support

Animal Advocates Watchdog

PLEASE CROSSPOST WIDELY

From the Sled Dog Action Coalition, http://www.helpsleddogs.org

ABC named Rachael Scdoris, the legally blind woman who is participating in the Iditarod, as its Person of the Week. Earlier this week, ABC's Good Morning America interviewed Scdoris. In both cases, nothing was said about the cruelties of the race.

This year, Associated Press sports columnist Steve Wilstein is covering the race. Instead of being objective, the Alaska Associated Press' website expresses the hope that Wilstein will attract new Iditarod fans.

The Iditarod is a barbaric race that deserves condemnation, not support. Here's a short list of what happens to the dogs during the race: death, paralysis, penile frostbite, bleeding ulcers, broken bones, pneumonia, ruptured discs, hypothermia, broken teeth, viral diseases, torn footpads and lung damage.

Stories about the dogs receiving top-notch health care don't square with the facts. Dogs are often sick before the Iditarod starts but are made to race anyway. While some sick dogs are dropped during the race, others are given massive doses of antibiotics to keep them going.

Please write to ABC the Associated Press to express your displeasure.

ABC: NETAUDR@abc.com
Associated Press: tcurley@ap.org

WRITE TO ALL IDITAROD SUPPORTERS:

Below is a list of organizations that are 2005 Iditarod race sponsors, musher sponsors or Iditarod promoters. Emails are first given in block form and then individually under the sample letter. Email addresses with semi-colons in block form can be found on http://www.helpsleddogs.org/sponsors.htm on the bottom of the page.

BLOCK EMAILS:

martink@wyeth.com, jhallin@standard.com, info@standard.com, NETAUDR@abc.com, investorrelations@rccl.com, deknutson@landolakes.com, Shareholders.IM@pg.com, jhong@safeway.com, investor.relations@blockbuster.com, contact.privacy@mcd.com, tim_fitzpatrick@comcast.com, alfred.j.modugno@marsh.com, gmorgenstern@att.com, wford@ford.com, john.devine@gm.com, david@wkcpr.org, abuckelew@carnival.com, wmcalduff@wilmington.k12.ma.us, Amy.Sherwood@Yum.com, ombudsman@npr.org, lbremner@npr.org, jking@npr.org, Chris.B.Ahearn@lowes.com, Jgilbert@udelhoven.com, myer@phcp.com, jmenaker@webershandwick.com, alice.nathanson@effem.com, klane@weather.com, mboyter@weather.com, brad.bodenman@americanseafoods.com, ir.dcx@daimlerchrysler.com, heyer@na.ko.com, NewsOutback@OUTBACK.com, info@workman.com, investorrelations@wellsfargo.com, marketing@mill-cop.com, chris.jones@effem.com, kroger.investors@kroger.com, gisx@mindspring.com, ssolomon@dixieline.com, pubaffmr@chevrontexaco.com, today@nbc.com, enterprise.comments@exxonmobil.com, leo.kiely@coors.com, tcurley@ap.org, amy_banse@comcast.com, chendricks@mcclatchy.com, employment@providence.org, bob.dotson@nbc.com, investor_relations@scholastic.com, atpinfo@avalonpub.com, Customer.Service@cabelas.com, sales@gitsat.com, info@annamaet.com, jdc@eaglepack.com, info@breg.com, info@dogbooties.com, barsenault@wilmington.k12.ma.us, international@grabberwarmers.com, info@blackwoodpetfood.com, redpaw@cheqnet.net, gene@motosolutions.com, steve.yager@nacs.k12.in.us, sales@edmundoptics.com, info@adfinc.com, feedback@amnutrition.com, webmaster@arcticcat.com, investorrelations@gandermountain.com, sdougherty@cirrusdesign.com, rstewart@borton.com, info@whs-tools.com, MarkS@IcicleSeafoods.com, wilderinfo@wilderconstruction.com, publicaffairs@anadarko.com, feedback@olntv.com, dawn.mccall@discovery.com, viewer@pbs.org, jmoses@elderhostel.org, gunter.thielen@bertelsmann.de, polson@randomhouse.com, mspring@wiley.com, ecousens@wiley.com, jsisk@rowmanlittlefield.com, sdisney@mail.valpo.k12.in.us, mgoad@ctsd.k12.nj.us, info@dhblattner.com, info@adventureunlimited.org, STEVESI@d11.org, rick@unitedrailroad.net, pat@seniorsojourns.com, sales@ophirgold.com, franchising@batteriesplus.com, rputney@grossmanchev.com, info@multi-pak.com, info@royalcanin.us, contact@propacpetfood.com, beaversports@beaversports.com, info@mttravel.com, bill@billhansonattorney.com, ragnar.evensen@afgruppen.no, wear@wolfsongadventures.com, HCC19@aol.com, scottz@PETPLACE.COM, ir@alaskaair.com, wosport@aol.com, info@toofar.com, editor_1@achievement.org, presse@langenscheidt.de, chad.haight@sasquatchbooks.com, jobs@roughguides.co.uk, marilyn.ducksworth@us.penguingroup.com, mstewart@marthastewart.com, emailbag@timeforkids.com, leepinliz@bridgeband.com, juneymoon@email.msn.com, Solutions@ReflectivelyYOURS.com, sales@innisbrook.com, windigo@cheqnet.net, info@coldspotfeeds.com, alliage.com@wanadoo.fr, leonce@avalonpub.com, careers@princesscruises.com

PLEASE PERSONALIZE SAMPLE LETTER:

Dear

Please stop supporting the barbaric Iditarod with all the evils associated with it.

Mushers treat their dogs abominably. In the Iditarod, dogs are forced to run 1,150 miles, which is the approximate distance between Dallas and Cleveland over a grueling terrain in 8 to 15 days. USA Today sports columnist Jon Saraceno called the Iditarod "a travesty of grueling proportions" and "Ihurtadog." Fox sportscaster Jim Rome called it "I-killed-a-dog." Orlando Sentinel sports columnist George Diaz said the race is "an illegal sweatshop for dogs." USA Today business columnist Bruce Horovitz said the race is a "public-relations minefield."

Please visit the Sled Dog Action Coalition website http://www.helpsleddogs.org and be sure to read the quotes on http://www.helpsleddogs.org/remarks.htm . All the material on the site is true and verifiable.

At least 122 dogs have died in the Iditarod. There is no official count of
dog deaths available for the race's early years. Here's a short list of what happens to the dogs during the race: death, paralysis, penile frostbite, bleeding ulcers, broken bones, pneumonia, ruptured discs, hypothermia, broken teeth, viral diseases, torn footpads and lung damage.

On average, 53 percent of the dogs who start the race do not even make it across
the finish line. Of those that finish, 81 percent have lung damage. No one knows how many dogs die in training or after the race. A report published in the Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine said that 48.5 percent of the dogs who participate in the Iditarod have ulceration, tissue erosion, gastric hemorrhage, or a combination of these conditions.

Tom Classen, retired Air Force colonel and Alaskan resident for over 40
years, tells us that the dogs are beaten into submission:

"They've had the hell beaten out of them." "You don't just whisper into their ears, 'OK, stand there until I tell you to run like the devil.' They understand one thing: a beating. These dogs are beaten into submission the same way elephants are trained for a circus. The mushers will deny it. And you know what? They are all lying." -USA Today, March 3, 2000 in Jon Saraceno's column

Mushers believe in "culling" or killing unwanted dogs, including puppies. Many dogs who are permanently disabled in the Iditarod, or who are unwanted for any reason, including those who have outlived their usefulness are killed with a shot to the head, dragged or clubbed to death. "Dogs are clubbed with baseball bats and if they don't pull are dragged to death in harnesses....." wrote Alaskan Mike Cranford in an article for Alaska's Bush Blade Newspaper (March, 2000).

Jon Saraceno wrote in his March 3, 2000 column in USA Today, "He [Colonel
Tom Classen] confirmed dog beatings and far worse. Like starving dogs to maintain their most advantageous racing weight. Skinning them to make mittens. Or dragging them to their death."

Please end your organization's association with this horrific race.

Sincerely,

IDITAROD SPONSORS:

Fort Dodge Animal Health (Wyeth)
Email: martink@wyeth.com

Daimler Chrysler
Email: ir.dcx@daimlerchrysler.com

Coca-Cola
Email: heyer@na.ko.com

Outback Steakhouse
Email NewsOutback@OUTBACK.com

Millennium & Copthorne Hotels
Email: marketing@mill-cop.com

Wells Fargo & Company
Email:investorrelations@wellsfargo.com

Kroger Co. (Fred Meyer Stores)
Email: kroger.investors@kroger.com

Spenard Builders (Lanoga Corporation)
Email: ssolomon@dixieline.com

Office Tech (Global Imaging Systems, Inc.)
Email: gisx@mindspring.com