Here is why:

http://www.peta.org/b/thepetafiles/archive/tags/Iditarod/default.aspx

Do some research. Here are some more facts.

http://animalrights.about.com/od/animalsinentertainment/a/IditarodDogs.htm

It only wastes your time and annoys the pig.

I should be getting the care those dogs do.

This part caught my eye

Iditarod plans changes after sled dog death

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) -- Changes are planned for Alaska's Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race following the asphyxiation death of a dog that was buried in snow by extreme winds, organizers of the 1,000-mile race said Wednesday.

Race officials said they also plan to meet with the owners of 5-year-old Dorado. The dog was found dead at a checkpoint Friday, four days after he was removed from the race because he was moving stiffly. He was kept in Unalakleet to await transportation home.Iditarod plans changes after sled dog death

<snip>

The Iditarod Trail Committee said planned changes include construction of dog shelters at two major checkpoints, and more frequent checks on the animals.

''This type of self-examination is an important part of ITC's historical commitment to the improvement of the welfare of the canine athletes that annually participate in the Race,'' officials said in a statement.

http://animalrights.about.com/gi/o.htm?zi=1/XJ&zTi=1&sdn=animalrights&cdn=newsissues&tm=69&f=10&tt=2&bt=7&bts=7&zu=http%3A//sports.yahoo.com/news/iditarod-plans-changes-sled-dog-011015006--spt.html%3B_ylt%3DA2KJ2Pany0pReUcAUiPQtDMD

But for you to focus on the Iditarod in terms of animal cruelty is like focusing on race horses.
Has anyone accused you of being a "cutetarian" yet? Not that I agree, but, that is an argument.

The worst thing I have ever seen is an undercover video of a capuchin monkey named Malish who lived (or maybe still lives) his whole life in a barred, lonely cage and only gets taken out to have wires plugged into his brain. Well anyway, it was the worst feeling I have ever experienced when watching an intelligent, feeling animal (a fellow primate) being used for scientific experiments. The video was shot surreptitiously by an Israeli college student.

You might also take a look at the way pigs or chickens are treated on farm factories.

--Peace.

And yes that primate probably lived his entire life with a metal cap bolted to his head, in a gov approved tiny cage size. If it was a teaching hospital hundreds of students did the same 'test' over and over.

Some people do focus on dogs and lots focus on race horses. Have you ever wondered what happened to the hundreds of thousands of race horses, trotters and pacers, the wore out losers?

How about the hundreds of sled dogs that don't make the grade? Or like last year the sled dog tourist dogs. They pull sleds for tourists. After the season they don't need all those dogs. An employee shoots 100 or more dogs. He got PTS and sued for disability as the horror of it all made him mentally ill. He won.

A lot of people get nightmares over that kind of evil, you're not alone. Peace.

Iditarod dogs are cared for better than just about any animals I can think of, and they do love what they do.

Now, that's all I'm going to say about this.

yes, puppy mills produce about 2 million pups a year..the humane societies put to sleep about the same number.

The key to change though is public exposure. I doubt another 'well cared for sled dog' will freeze to death over 4 days, after they changed the rules someone will check on the left behind dogs.

and was probably due to the negligence of the volunteers at Unalakleet who most likely had no experience with a Norton Sound blizzard. There are thousands of volunteers from all over the country -- and the world, for that matter -- who help with the race in all different capacities, and unfortunately in this case, it seems that someone dropped the ball. Paige was devastated. The Iditarod Trail Committee is constantly trying to improve the safety of the race, and I personally think it's quite remarkable that this is the only dog death in four years, when you consider that over 1,000 dogs are involved in each race. If a dog doesn't seem to be enjoying himself, is balking or holding back, he will be dropped at the nearest checkpoint, thoroughly checked by a veterinarian and sent back to Anchorage until the race is over, where they are very well cared for by the female inmates at Hiland Mountain Correctional Center, who are more than happy to give back. Every year 10 or 15 mushers drop out rather than stress their dogs.

All I can say about this is what I've seen, how the mushers treat their dogs, how the dogs obviously adore their masters, how gentle and unaggressive the sled dogs are. In Nome, little kids go into the chute at the finish line and pet the dogs, give them treats, and I've never once since a dog snap or get angry. There are two mandatory eight-hour layovers and one 24-hour layover along the trail, so no dog is pushed beyond its endurance. They won't run anyway if they don't feel like it. But after all the finish-line formalities are taken care of and it's time to go to the dog lot, they always hop right up and act like they're ready to go another couple hundred miles. They really are remarkable animals.

because it affects us all.

The cats unlucky to be captives of the lab at the University of Wisconsin.

I would prefer that this not devolve into that, which is why I specifically asked that it not.

These are just my photos, pure and simple. I don't judge you, so please try not to judge us.

I just take pictures.

what people post.

and, of course, people can post what they want, as can I. I choose to post these pictures because over the years many people here have been appreciative.

I won't change your mind, you won't change mine, so we'll leave it at that.

Flame away, people, if you must. I'm pretty thick-skinned about this at this point.

It's a small town but Alaska is a beautiful state. With climate change looks like that area will turn back to moderate tundra and they won't have enough snow to run a 1,000 mile dog race. Unless they go to wheeled carts and sponsors up the prize money. Or they could start using horses or dogs that can pull weight through mud.

Land there though, check real estate..not much for sale at all. Land is sky-high. You see one day fairly soon a tunnel will be built from Nome to Russia. Private investers will back that cost.

After all by the official alaska state laws for animal abuse...rodeo animals and sled dogs are exempt. Legally they can do anything to those animals.

Love your pictures. Looked over generally the dogs condition and they look very healthy. Competition animals are a bit ribby, thats normal. Must be normal to use mixbreeds, the ones with long legs. All neutered and docile (lI didn't notice any unneutered males)..because you just wouldn't want your pack to be fighting with each other or waste energy barking/agressive at people.

A couple the tape to hold on the boots looks a bit tight, swelling above the tape. also the little nub on the back of the pastern is inflamed on some of them. I've used tape and wraps on both my sports dogs and horses. These things happen sometimes with boots that are necessary to keep the feet/hoof from wearing to the bone or balled up with snowpack.

sorry to be so wordie and it's very nice you took the time to post your pictures. People are different and when they look at a picture they can see different things based on their life experiences.

We actually know a realtor in Nome, or at least I assume she still lives out there (we didn't see her this year). There's a realty company called "Nome Sweet Homes," which you may have dealt with because I believe they're one of the few out there. Her name is Melissa.

Funny you should mention the tunnel to Siberia. That was always one of the big dreams of Wally Hickel when he was still alive. In a way I think that would be kind of awesome. There's actually quite a bit of commerce that goes on back and forth between that part of Western Alaska and the Siberian Natives. We bought some Native art while we were out there, some of which was made by whatever the Russian equivalent is of Inupiat. When you were in Nome, did you visit the Chukotna-Alaska store? It was owned by a very cool old guy named Victor, who unfortunately passed away last November. His family is keeping his store going, though, in a new, much larger location. That's where we bought some of our carvings.


As for neutered dogs, I don't believe all of them are. I remember a story a couple of years ago where one of Lance Mackey's females was in heat and was causing all kinds of havoc for him on the trail. I guess that's one way to keep them motivated if she was a lead dog.

They will still build that tunnel and commerce/trade will grow like crazy out there. Will be owned by private persons and they will spend billions. The permits are going through, slow but sure for some massive mines in Alaska's remote areas.

You're right! There was only one real estate agent out there and she had just 3 houses listed. Nome is really a small town.

I wanted much more land, many acres with a close road. Already all the larger land near Nome is priced to high for me to afford.

Funny you mention the carvings. I bought some mammoth bones from some entrepreneur who dredges the sea waters for (gold?) mammoth ivory to carve. The sea bed out there is covered with mammoth/animal bones. That land must have been really something in the last ice age, millions of herds- before the sea covered the land bridge.

I don't have too many issues with that mine. The one I'm most concerned about is Pebble which could do irreparable damage to the Bristol Bay watershed and salmon runs and destroy a way of life.

Here is just one of the many anti-Pebble websites: http://fishermenforbristolbay.org/pebble-mine/

I assumed Nome was much larger. Don't mean that a a put-down (you know I love Alaska), I'm just surprised.

I don't want any horrid surprises when I open the photo's.

We haven't seen Sarah in ages. You won't see any politicians in these photos.

don't let people that forget what the Lounge is all about cause you grief.

loved the shot early on of a team pulling out. pure joy emanating from those dogs if you ask me.

As you know my husband and I own and operate an extreme sport animal training facility (3 Day eventing with horses) so I'm also hypersensitive to how photos like these can be manipulated.

But you did a fantastic job. You captured the sheer joy the dogs have for the race. Its so hard to convince people that some animals are simply bred to compete and absolutely LOVE, LOVE, LOVE it. One of our horses was almost beyond manageability at the start of a cross country run, he was so eager for the race. Charging, bolting, rearing - they had to do the "count down" to the start of his departure time with hand signals since he'd learned what the numbers and the word "go" meant.

He would literally rocket out of the gate and eat up the course. Iditarod dogs are much the same kind of competitor. Until you have seen it and experienced it first hand, nobody understands.

Thanks for posting. I've been waiting for these! Good job!

I really appreciate it. Iditarod is kind of like our Mardi Gras, so it's a little distressing when people misinterpret. Like you say, unless they've seen it, they can't understand.

Great pictures

I intend to do Urban Mushing.
http://www.urbanmushing.com/

It is so damn cool!
I'll use a 4 wheeled scooter and a big dog to pull me, or I would just you know, do the skateboard thing.

I don't see myself ever competing, just think it would be fun to do with a dog for a mile or so.

If only we could pull together like that here at DU!

Very well taken care of, very happy dogs

Of course the kind of dog you breed for the Iditerod feels out of place unless they're pulling a cart

Going to show Jodie when she gets home.

that sled dogs love to pull and need the 'purpose' in their lives. However, I'm not a fan of the Iditarod because of the length and difficulty of the race.

I would agree with you, but they are not pushed beyond what they want to do, and there are many checkpoints and mandatory layovers along the way. These dogs are very well trained and athletic and are used to running long distances every day. Tired or unenthusiastic dogs are left at the checkpoints which is why some teams arrive at the end of the race with only seven dogs in harness. And some mushers drop dogs because they can go faster at the end with fewer dogs to attend to. Opponents often point to the number of dropped dogs as evidence of the race's "cruelty," but in fact it is just the opposite. Dogs are dropped for strategic reasons and because the mushers care tremendously about the welfare of each animal.

And, as I said, if a dog doesn't want to go, he won't. There has been more than one occasion of a musher scratching in White Mountain or even Safety which is only 22 miles out from Nome because the dogs just didn't want to go anymore. Perfectly fine, in great health, but just bored with it all. The musher has no recourse but to scratch -- even the great ones like Jeff King, who scratched last year at Unalakleet.

I lived in AK for a short while and got hooked on the Iditarod. When my daughter went to school in New Mexico, they did a unit on the Iditarod, followed the results, posted times and everything. It brings back fond memories.

Loved the Jamaican dog sled team.

Funny thing, I just got through re watching Call of the Wild last night. Traveling through Alaska and the Yukon Territory was like stepping into a Jack London novel.

Loved the pics.