DanJPopp t1_jays48u wrote on March 5, 2023 at 2:48 AM

Reply to comment by acbo_1 in Alaska's arduous Iditarod kicks off with ceremonial start by besselfunctions

Care to tell us how the dogs are forced to run? The mushers don't use whips (they would be disqualified and arrested for animal abuse). Dogs they raise that refuse to run are simply given up for adoption. The dogs they run literally get upest/anxious if they're kept from running. So please, explain how the dogs are forced to run.

acbo_1 t1_jayvj08 wrote on March 5, 2023 at 3:17 AM

I don't believe that they are forced to run, which is why I never said anything of that nature. You're absolutely correct.

I just wonder why, when motors exist, we continue to propel our payloads using sapient beings (purely for sport, no less) rather than allowing those beings to enjoy running freely and without strain. If they could speak, maybe they would tell us they prefer the challenge of pulling weight, but they can't, so I feel we should err on the side of ethics.

As for whipping, I don't doubt that the official governing bodies of the event forbid it, but the fact remains that any form of professional competition inherently encourages cheating. In dog races, cheating tends to involve animal cruelty.

You're not wrong, and I'm sure you know far more about Iditarod than I ever will... but your perception of animals and their value is very interesting to me.

You seem to base your disdain for animal rights activists off of a very understandble hatred of PETA, which is the polar opposite of an animal rights activism group.

CanisLupis747 t1_jazhhnu wrote on March 5, 2023 at 6:55 AM

I’ve been out running with sled dogs and seen how excited they get when it’s time to run. They’re not pushed, they’re not forced, they love doing what they’re doing. It’s conceivable that some racers abuse dogs, but it’s not a very rewarding sport to get into for the money so there’s not much financial incentive to abuse your dogs (prize money is $50,000 and you spend more than that just getting dogs ready to compete) so there’s no reason to believe there’s more animal abuse in the Iditarod than in your regular run of the mill household.

Cheap outfits that take tourists out on dog runs every hour? Those might have a lot of animal abuse, but there’s no reason to project that onto the serious athletes.