Help stop promotion of cruel Iditarod to schoolchildren

[Guest guest]

Source: tpanitz, the Sled Dog Action Coalition, SledDogAC

 

A 4th grade teacher named Ann Morgan at Chatham Elementary School on

Cape Cod, MA. does a unit and lesson plans on the Iditarod (from what we can

understand she's been doing this for years) and this year will even

attend the race in Alaska! The Cape Cod Times is joining with her to

invite all teachers and classes Capewide to participate via the

Internet. The Times is sponsoring a teachers' workshop on Feb. 1 to

facilitate all of this.

 

Please let the Cape Cod Times, Ann Morgan and Paul Ralston, Ms. Morgan's

principal, know about the cruel realities of the Iditarod. A sample letter

is provided below. Call, write, or fax them at the following:

 

Jean Bessette, Educational Services

Cape Cod Times

319 Main St.

Hyannis, MA 02601

Phone: 508 862- 1226

Fax: 508 771- 4215

E-mail: news

 

Ann Morgan's Email: ann

 

Principal Paul Ralston

Chatham Elementary School

147 Depot Road

Chatham, MA 02633

Phone: (508)945-5135

Email: pralston

 

SAMPLE LETTER:

 

Dear

 

I understand you are planning to promote the Iditarod dog sled race to

children and I would like to bring some facts to your attention. This race

is condemned by animal protection groups across the United States.

 

In the Iditarod, dogs are forced to run 1,150 miles over a grueling terrain

in 9 to 14 days, which is the approximate distance between Denver and LA.

Dog deaths and injuries are common in the race. Jon Saraceno, sports

columnist for USA Today, called the race " Ihurtadog " and " an outrage. "

Please visit the Sled Dog Action Coalition website

http://www.helpsleddogs.org to see pictures and for more information.

 

The Iditarod Trail Committee portrays the Iditarod as a commemoration of the

1925 Anchorage to Nome diphtheria serum run. However, there are very few

similarities between the two events. Half of the 1925 serum run was done by

train. Dogs ran in relays for the remaining 500 or 600 miles, with few dogs

running more than 100 miles. In the Iditarod, dogs run 1,150 miles over

terrain far more grueling than the terrain found on the serum run route.

 

The race has led to the proliferation of husky dog kennels in Alaska. In

these kennels, many dogs are treated cruelly. Many kennels have over 100

dogs. Some have as many as 200 dogs.

 

It is standard for the dogs to spend their entire lives outside tethered to

metal chains that can be as short as four feet long. In 1997 the United

States Department of Agriculture determined that the tethering of dogs was

inhumane and not in the animals' best interests. The chaining of dogs as a

primary means of enclosure is prohibited in all cases where federal law

applies. A dog who is permanently tethered is forced to urinate and defecate

where he sleeps, which conflicts with his natural instinct to eliminate away

from his living area. Being close to his own fecal material, a dog can

easily catch deadly parasitical diseases by stepping in or sniffing his own

waste.

 

Please do not promote this cruel race and the kennels it spawns.

 

Sincerely,

 

 

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