Revisiting the Iditarod
Trying to stop Iditarod dog deaths -- as opposed to trying to stop the Iditarod -- is the work of Dr. Randall J. Basaraba, the lead author of a study published last month that offers the first detailed analysis of the 23 dog deaths in the race from 1994 to 2006.
The study, published in The Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, found that 23 dogs died in the race in that period, an average of 1.77 dogs per race.
Three dogs died in Alaska this year during the taxing 1,100-mile journey from Anchorage to Nome -- a 3-year-old female named Lorne, who was struck by a snowmobile; another who succumbed to symptoms of pneumonia and a third still being investigated.
Three dogs died last year as well.
Despite that, Basaraba and others -- according to this story in the New York times -- say that their research has improved mortality rates, especially considering the increasing number of entrants. This year, a record 96 teams of 16 dogs started the race.
(AP Photo by Al Grillo)
“I’m very confident in the system that has been put in to place to assure the animals get the best care that is possible,” said Basaraba an associate professor of pathology at Colorado State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences. “I have no reservations about the integrity of the race.”
Unlike in the early days of the Iditarod, when few records were kept and dogs died more often, researchers are bringing a new level of transparency and scrutiny to the way the 40- to 45-pound huskies function — and sometimes fail, according to the New York Times article.
At least one dog has died every year since the first Iditarod, in 1973, the article says. Animal-rights groups denounce the race, which requires dogs to pull sleds weighing 250 pounds or more across mountain passes, frozen lakes and tundra in biting winds and temperatures that can dip below minus 50, a journey that can take 9 to 18 days.
“The death toll continues to mount,” Lisa Wathne, a spokeswoman for People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, told the Times. “This is a grueling event that is cruel and inappropriate to the dogs, who obviously don’t have a choice in the matter.”
Wayne Pacelle, the president and chief executive of the Humane Society of the United States, said his organization used to send people to monitor the race but had not focused on it as much in recent years.
In addition to deaths in the race, Pacelle said he is concerned about culling and overbreeding ... The number of animals dying in the race is dwarfed, I’m sure, by the number of animals that may be shunted aside in one way or another."
Comments
Interesting piece. Especially with the automatic reach-out to PETA for response. Or maybe that IS appropriate.
After all, with PETA's 97 percent kill rate at their Virginia "shelter," I guess they certainly are the authority on "death tolls that continue to mount."
Details from Commonwealth of Virginia reports required of shelters by law.
Posted by: Gina Spadafori | March 25, 2008 11:19 AM
Gina, I agree with you completely. PETA has killed more dogs each year than have perished in the Iditarod since its inception--and they're not too particular about how they do the killing, either. Your link to the Virginia reports isn't working for me, but I am sure it tells the story. I'll rely on the Humane Society, the SPCA, and even the AKC for better informed opinions about most animal-welfare matters. I have to wonder how many of those animals they killed might have been placed in good homes to live out their lives--but of course PETA does not believe we should have animals as our companions.
Posted by: Anne | March 25, 2008 12:43 PM
The Iditarod isn't a must-do. A surefire way to end dog deaths and injuries is to end the race.
Prof. Basaraba sounds like a paid public relations spokesperson for the Iditarod. That makes me wonder if he's profiting money-wise from the race. Regardless, his information on the over-the-counter ulcer medications is wrong. They were only found to be effective in dogs who ran 100 miles. The Iditarod is 1,150 miles over a terribly harsh terrain.
Posted by: Doginator | March 26, 2008 2:02 PM
Gina and Anne (the OTHER one!) are either nuts, or have an agenda . . . . or both.
Posted by: Anne S. | March 26, 2008 2:07 PM
Dog mushing is a sport for true dog lovers and that becomes readily apparent once one witnesses it in person. These dogs are born to run and need an incredible amount of exercise. They are most comfortable in temps at or below zero. As a dog lover I was skeptical about mushing before moving to Alaska but I am no longer. Just last night I was out with my son and my 2 dogs when I ran into a lady walking a energetic blue eyed husky. I asked her how old the dog was and she answered 13 years old. She said the dog had completed 3 Iditarods before her family adopted the dog at 8 years old. This same dog living down south in a warm climate with a sedentary lifestyle would have probably died years ago but here it was trotting along looking like it was 2 years old. Before condemning something witness itself yourself.
Posted by: Brandon | March 27, 2008 2:41 PM