News of a sled dog tour company in British Columbia, Canada killing 100 sled dogs is horrifying people around the world. A slump in tourism after the Vancouver Olympics in 2010 resulted in the dogs being killed less than two months after the games ended.
A criminal investigation by the British Columbia SPCA will focus on whether the dogs suffered long, miserable deaths at the hands of an employee who shot the dogs multiple times and killed some dogs with a knife, but this would be a tragedy no matter how quick or painless their deaths. The company says that in the future, they'll take the dogs to a veterinarian to be killed. In other words, the company has no qualms about killing excess dogs and plans to continue doing so in the future. They just want to make sure to avoid all this negative publicity.
(Update: The identity of the individual who killed the dogs has been revealed as Bob Fawcett, an "award-winning dog sledder" and part owner of the sled dog tour company. Fawcett is also Vice President of Mush with P.R.I.D.E., an organization that is "dedicated to enhancing the care and treatment of sled dogs.")
To animal rights activists, it's yet another example of excess animals being killed after they have outlived their usefulness to their exploiters.
Animal advocates have known for a long time that mushers in sled dog races regularly kill the dogs who are not useful racing dogs. Mushers frequently breed their own dogs, and not every dog can be a winner. Former musher Ashley Keith told the Sled Dog Action Coalition:
When I was active in the mushing community, other mushers were open with me about the fact that larger Iditarod kennels frequently disposed of dogs by shooting them, drowning them or setting them loose to fend for themselves in the wilderness. This was especially true in Alaska, they said, where veterinarians were often hours away. They often used the phrase 'Bullets are cheaper.' And they noted that it's more practical for mushers in remote parts of Alaska to do it themselves.
Dogs aren't the only working animals to be killed when they're no longer needed. Worn out carriage horses are sent to auction and uncertain fates. Race horses are regularly overbred and killed in the search for a champion.
Similarly, ten billion land animals are killed for food every year in the U.S., just to please our palates. Over 40 million animals are also killed worldwide each year for fur, and 200 million are killed annually by American hunters.
The Vancouver Humane Society is calling for a ban on sled dog tours, which would be a good step. But if you're outraged over the deaths of these dogs, keep in mind the billions of other animals who die for our food, fashion and entertainment, and please go vegan.
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The accused has been removed as VP of Mush With PRIDE.
From Mush with P.R.I.D.E.’s President, Karen Ramstead…
>
> We are shocked and saddened to hear that one of Mush with P.R.I.D.E.’s
> Board members is being implicated in the mass killing of sled dogs in
> Whistler, British Columbia. The Board has passed a motion to remove Bob
> Fawcett from the Board of Mush with P.R.I.D.E. immediately.
>
> Euthanasia should not be used for population control and what happened
> in this case is simply unacceptable. No responsible sled dog owner or
> caregiver treats dogs in this manner.
>
> Mush with P.R.I.D.E. was created by mushers who love their dogs and feel
> strongly about promoting responsible and humane sled dog care. We are
> dismayed that the organization so many of us are passionate about is
> being tainted by this situation. It is revolting that those of us who
> take care of our dogs from puppies to geriatrics may be forced to wear
> the sins of those responsible for this atrocity.
>
> Please bear with us as we struggle to come to terms with this horrid
> situation.
>
THIS IS AN OUTRAGE!!!!!!!!!!!!
LAWS – Someone HAS to STOP this!!!!!!!!!!
People who did this should get what they did to these poor HELPLESS Dogs.
The dogs should have been given to ASPCA or Any Dog Rescue Group and they would have been ADOPTED by LOVING people!!!!!
Only takes 5 minutes to get Online and google the nearest Dog Rescue Group.
Alaska is part of the United States and those CRIMINALS NEED to be HELD RESPONSIBLE for their HORRIFIC ACTIONS.
The meek shall inherit the earth. It is scary to think what will happen in the future if this gross display of avarice continues…
People should be enraged over this.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N_GHWPAzk34
Is there a reason why these dogs aren’t adopted out? I guess the “cheaper, takes less time to kill them” argument might also apply there to non-caring sled dog owners? I don’t know how someone who works with dogs as closely as they do can see them as such a disposable commodity.
As long as they didn’t kill the animals cruelly, I don’t see a problem with it.
terrible, i agree with jen, how can someone who works
and lives so close with those wonderful creatures forget
everything and think only about “profits”