Educate SF Chronicle about Iditarod cruelties

March 8, 2005

Letters to editor: letters (200 words or less)

Letter to AP columnist: swilstein

For Iditarod information: http://www.helpsleddogs.org

Csonka See Iditarod as Part Mardis Gras

By Steve Wilstein, AP

In a polar opposite climate to his old stomping grounds in Miami, Hall of Fame running back Larry Csonka stood bundled up on a frozen lake marveling at the hubbub surrounding the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race.

"It's like Mardis Gras and Groundhog Day combined," said Csonka, who lives in Alaska most of the year now, does hunting and fishing shows for Outdoor Life Network and was visiting his first Iditarod checkpoint Monday, about 150 miles from Sunday's start of the 1,100-mile race to Nome.

"It's a great celebration up here. There's a lot of teamwork involved. The mushers help each other out, but what really impresses me is that when they come in here they check the time, then seven veterinarians descend on the teams. They check hearts, tongues, temperatures, everything about the dogs. I've seen at least four dogs pulled out of the race today.

"Csonka said he understands the concerns of animal rights advocates who oppose the race because it's a grueling event.

"But they also have to realize these dogs are bred and trained for this and they live for it," Csonka said. "They want to do what they're doing. And the mushers are glad the vets check the dogs so carefully. They want the dogs to be healthy over the long haul and they don't want to shorten one's life because it's not up to snuff for a couple of days.

The article continues on

http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2005/03/08/sports/s025949S01.DTL