With the 2011 Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race starting this coming weekend, all eyes of the mushing world will be fixed on Alaska. If you have never experienced a sled-dog race I highly recommend it, especially if you are a dog lover. The pure joy and excitement that these animals experience while racing and the bonds that they form with their team is unequaled in the sports world.
I would like to thank the Tribune for publishing the article “North to Alaska” (Feb. 15), covering the ins and outs of this iconic event. This year’s race is going to be filled with a number of great storylines and it all can be followed at the Iditarod website (http://Iditarod.com/). Hopefully, the mainstream media will provide some live coverage as well.
Unfortunately though, the race has come under fire from some animal rights groups, namely People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, that feel it causes dogs to suffer. Sadly, this has scared away some of the event’s sponsors and may scare away major sports media outlets, such as ESPN. The shameful truth about this accusation is that it is based mostly on hearsay with no real evidence that even suggests the race decreases the lifespan of a sled dog or causes it undue harm. Just as much, the word from competitors and race officials is that nobody from any of these animal rights groups have even spent one day at the race or on the trail.
Yes, it is true that some dogs have died while competing in the Iditarod but the fact is that the rates of death are no different on the trail than they are anywhere else in the world. It all just seems like an unfocused agenda by another lazy organization that is willing to pick on an easy target in order to grab headlines. Typical.
I personally hope that the Tribune, for one, continues to shine a positive light on this incredible race.
— Scot Acocks, Marquette, Mich.
