Just heard this on the radio.
People For The Ethical Treatment Of Animals have sent a letter to the Commander of the Alaska State Troopers asking that he look into the deaths of two dogs in the Idatarod Trail Sled Dog Race. They feel the musher should be charged with animal cruelty.
This is utterly ridiculous. Every precaution is taken to assure the health of all the dogs. Those dogs are the best trained and looked after dogs in the world. They are real athalites and are looked at by veterinarians before and at many of the check points along the race. When you have 1200 dogs running in the race you are going to have a few that have a genetic defect that is undetectable get through. It's no ones fault, it just happens. Dogs are out there doing what they like to do, happy and running along. Suddenly ones heart just gives out and it falls over dead. Think how that musher feels. He has just lost a friend, someone he has worked with for a long time, sometimes years. A dog he has nurtured and coached through good times and bad. He has a large investment in time and love in that animal. It is devestating to him or her.
And PETA is using this as a way to put a negative spin on the race, in hopes of getting public sentiment against the race to shut it down.
Lance Macky won again just for those that have not heard.