CANADA'S IDITAROD NO MORE THAN DOG ABUSE
At least 127 dogs have been run to death or have died from other causes in the Iditarod. There is no official count of dog deaths available for the race's early year
www.helpsleddogs.org/
The Iditarod is described by the Iditarod Trail Committee and by the Alaskan media as an exciting contest of man against nature. What the descriptions do not tell us is the untold suffering of the dogs that often give their lives in this race.
Dog deaths and injuries are common in the Iditarod, and when they are not racing, the dogs live under inhumane conditions.
A dog is being dragged on the ice. He may be dead or unconscious.
The musher may be sleeping.
Iditarod Race Facts
He cannot speak for himself but you can.
This dog's picture was taken at the kennel of a leading musher.
The Iditarod is a dog sled race held every March in Alaska.
The 2006 Iditarod will begin on March 4. In this race mushers (dog sled drivers) force their dogs to run 1,150 miles from Anchorage to Nome in 8 to 15 days over a grueling terrain.
This is the approximate distance between Los Angeles and Seattle, New York City and Miami, Chicago and Houston.
Mushers press their dogs to run at ever increasing speeds, so that the dogs get little rest or sleep.
The current speed record is 8 days, 22 hours and 46 minutes, less than half the time it took to run the first Iditarod race. No dog wants to run so far and so fast.
Read about abuse in kennels go to
www.helpsleddogs.org/
PLEASE WRITE AND FORWARD
From the Sled Dog Action Coalition,
www.helpsleddogs.org
Please help the Iditarod dogs by sending protest emails to race supporters.
These dogs are helpless victims of profoundly inhumane treatment and cannot speak for themselves.
A list of what happens to them during the Iditarod includes death, paralysis, penile frostbite, bleeding ulcers, broken bones, pneumonia, torn muscles and tendons, diarrhea, vomiting, hypothermia, fur loss, broken teeth, viral diseases, torn footpads, ruptured discs, sprains, anemia and lung damage.
How do sick animals run the 1,100 miles across frozen tundra and through icy waters?
Veterinarians give them massive doses of antibiotics to keep them going.
Anemia tires the dogs but mushers force them to run mile after grueling mile.
No one knows how many dogs die after this tortuous ordeal or during training.
Please send protest emails to race supporters using the list below of organizations that are 2006 Iditarod race sponsors, musher sponsors, or Iditarod promoters.
Emails are first given in block form and then individually under the sample letter.
Email addresses with semi-colons in block form can be found at
www.helpsleddogs.org/sponsors.htm on the bottom of the page.
ALL EMAIL ADDRESSES - for easy sending, copy and paste as a bunch into your "Blind Copy" box:
communitymatters@morganstanley.com,
Media_Inquiries@pinnaclefoodscorp.com,
info@greenies.com,
rklein@whopper.com,
stacy.roughan@ihop.com,
myace@acehardware.com,
media@energizer.com,
press@echostar.com,
helen.ostrowski@porternovelli.com,
Customer.Service@cabelas.com,
ir.dcx@daimlerchrysler.com,
pressinquiries@na.ko.com,
marketing@mill-cop.com,
investorrelations@wellsfargo.com,
kroger.investors@kroger.com,
chendricks@mcclatchy.com,
enterprise.comments@exxonmobil.com,
newsroom@alaskaair.com,
jill.zanger@nike.com,
mark.parker@nike.com,
jerry_nix@genpt.com,
dan.davids@AETN.com,
skruse@hollandamerica.com,
abuckelew@carnival.com,
matthew.baldacci@stmartins.com,
markus.schunk@holtzbrinck.com,
ptosi@komen.org,
lhopkins@netbsa.org,
info@workman.com,
media@girlscouts.org,
sales@AvidID.com,
public.relations@usfsi.com,
public.relations@stihl.us,
AuditCommitteeChairman@emc.com,
corporatesales@ems.com,
aritchie@coneinc.com,
marketing.center@lpcorp.com,
tjacobs@dobson.net,
info@standard.com,
Shareholders.IM@pg.com,
investor.relations@blockbuster.com,
contact.privacy@mcd.com,
amy_phillips@olntv.com,
bhehn@alacer.com,
trey.harris@polarmax.com,
sportcare@muellersportsmed.com,
richard.edwards@polarisind.com,
bbutter@tollgrade.com,
Sales@eyaktek.com,
bigr@bigr.com,
equinox@eqnx.biz,
neos@overshoe.com,
info@nationaldogfood.com,
ssolomon@dixieline.com,
gisx@mindspring.com,
employment@providence.org,
investor_relations@scholastic.com,
gail@pskomen.org,
lkoenigsberg@wellnesscommunity.org,
jalley@nacwaa.org,
dgarrett@preventblindness.org,
rortiz@usaba.org,
spicchi@learningcommunity202.org,
wklaus@ecasd.k12.wi.us,
tfiedler@ecasd.k12.wi.us,
newsbur@uwec.edu,
denise.roberts@indian-river.k12.fl.us,
Linda.Robertson@indian-river.k12.fl.us,
beglaum@emints.org,
Szczepanskis@avon.k12.oh.us,
lekeating@comcast.net,
rhanzelka@mchsi.com,
contact@EDMIN.com,
library@barth.lib.in.us,
School_Board@montebello.k12.ca.us,
webmaster@education-world.com,
emailbag@timeforkids.com,
john.devine@gm.com,
wford@ford.com,
tricon.investor@tricon-yum.com,
nationalaccounts@amerigas.com,
jdc@eaglepack.com,
masmith@mail.volusia.k12.fl.us,
info@sportsmanswarehouse.com,
international@grabberwarmers.com,
redpaw@cheqnet.net,
gene@motosolutions.com,
sales@edmundoptics.com,
info@adfinc.com,
feedback@amnutrition.com,
wilderinfo@wilderconstruction.com,
franchising@batteriesplus.com,
rputney@grossmanchev.com,
info@royalcanin.us,
contact@propacpetfood.com,
info@coldspotfeeds.com,
info@isisforwomen.com,
rmacauley@michigansleep.com,
boositr@vetmed.auburn.edu,
ingrid@lowaboots.com,
sales@tomahawklog.com,
jim@ruralpropertyinvestments.com,
Michelle.Stalford@ofd.com,
dennis@composite-tech.com,
gurken@newnorth.net,
inquiries@indexc.com,
info@stormykromer.com,
support@americanlongevity.net,
businessloan.stpeter@fnbmn.com,
barbra@moneydots.com,
fschnoor@bcs.k12.oh.us,
mwittman@bcs.k12.oh.us,
fanningm@danbury.k12.oh.us,
ahelion@wcasd.net,
wjjq@wjjq.com,
email@murphydesmond.com,
jharling@nwtf.net,
Sales@oddsonrecording.com,
files@metalmagic.com,
droewe@biaofclarkcounty.org,
herbsallin1@yahoo.com herbsallin1@yahoo.vom> , john@evaz.ca, fotograf@annsissel.no, info@dogbooties.com, cerdey@learningcommunity202.org, DWalker@NorthernOutfitters.com, dsmith@mslma.org, Judy.Stang@indian-river.k12.fl.us, Linda.Robertson@indian-river.k12.fl.us, info@preventblindness.org, suzi@ci.amesbury.ma.us, Ken_Rietz@was.bm.com, info@blindness.org, artsinfo@michigan.gov, ccarts@chartermi.net, ghill@glenview34.org, mbrownlow@glenview34.org,
lhinton@glenview34.org, mwalther@glenview34.org, dknol@antigoschools.k12.wi.us, gcalloway@schenck.org
SAMPLE LETTER:
Dear Iditarod Supporter:
Please stop supporting the barbaric Iditarod dog sled race. Mushers treat their dogs abominably. In the Iditarod, dogs are forced to run 1,150 miles, which is the approximate distance between Miami, Florida and New York City, over a grueling terrain in 8 to 15 days. USA Today sports columnist Jon Saraceno called the Iditarod "a travesty of grueling proportions" and "Ihurtadog." Fox sportscaster Jim Rome called it "I-killed-a-dog." Orlando Sentinel sports columnist George Diaz said the race is "a barbaric ritual" and "an illegal sweatshop for dogs."
Please visit the Sled Dog Action Coalition website www.helpsleddogs.org and be sure to read the quotes on www.helpsleddogs.org/remarks.htm . All the material on the site is true and verifiable.
Iditarod dogs are simply not the invincible animals race officials portray. Here's a short list of what happens to the dogs during the race: death, paralysis, penile frostbite, bleeding ulcers, broken bones, pneumonia, torn muscles and tendons, diarrhea, vomiting, hypothermia, fur loss, broken teeth, viral diseases, torn footpads, ruptured discs, sprains, anemia and lung damage.
How do sick animals run the 1,100 miles across frozen tundra and through icy waters? Veterinarians give them massive doses of antibiotics to keep them going. Anemia tires the dogs but mushers force them to run mile after grueling mile.
At least 127 dogs have died in the Iditarod. No one knows how many dogs die after this tortuous ordeal or during training.
On average, 53 percent of the dogs who start the race do not make it across the finish line. According to a report published in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, of those who do cross, 81 percent have lung damage. A report published in the Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine said that 61 percent of the dogs who finish the Iditarod have ulcers versus zero percent pre-race.
Tom Classen, retired Air Force colonel and Alaskan resident for over 40 years, tells us that the dogs are beaten into submission:
"They've had the hell beaten out of them." "You don't just whisper into their ears, 'OK, stand there until I tell you to run like the devil.' They understand one thing: a beating. These dogs are beaten into submission the same way elephants are trained for a circus. The mushers will deny it. And you know what? They are all lying." -USA Today, March 3, 2000 in Jon Saraceno's column.
Mushers believe in "culling" or killing unwanted dogs, including puppies. Many dogs who are permanently disabled in the Iditarod, or who are unwanted for any reason, including those who have outlived their usefulness, are killed with a shot to the head, dragged or clubbed to death. "Dogs are clubbed with baseball bats and if they don't pull are dragged to death in harnesses....." wrote Alaskan Mike Cranford in an article for Alaska's Bush Blade Newspaper (March, 2000).
Jon Saraceno wrote in his March 3, 2000 column in USA Today, "He [Colonel
Tom Classen] confirmed dog beatings and far worse. Like starving dogs to maintain their most advantageous racing weight. Skinning them to make mittens. Or dragging them to their death."
Please end your organization's association with this horrific race.
Sincerely,
IDITAROD SPONSORS:
Cabelas (sporting goods)
Email: Customer.Service@cabelas.com
Daimler Chrysler
Email: ir.dcx@daimlerchrysler.com
Coca-Cola
Email: pressinquiries@na.ko.com
Millennium & Copthorne Hotels
Email: marketing@mill-cop.com
Wells Fargo & Company
Email:investorrelations@wellsfargo.com
Kroger Co. (Fred Meyer Stores)
Email: kroger.investors@kroger.com
Spenard Builders (Lanoga Corporation)
Email: ssolomon@dixieline.com
Office Tech (Global Imaging Systems, Inc.)
Email: gisx@mindspring.com
ChevronTexaco Corportation
Email: pubaffmr@chevrontexaco.com
Exxon Mobil Corporation
Email: enterprise.comments@exxonmobil.com
Anchorage Daily News (Mc Clatchy Company)
Email: chendricks@mcclatchy.com
Providence Health System
Email: employment@providence.org
Global Information Technologies
Email: sales@gitsat.com
Alaska Airlines (Alaska Air Group)
Email: newsroom@alaskaair.com
IDITAROD SUPPORTERS AND PROMOTERS:
TIME for Kids
Email: emailbag@timeforkids.com
Nike, Inc.
Email: mark.parker@nike.com
Email: jill.zanger@nike.com
NAPA Auto Parts (Genuine Parts Company)
Email: jerry_nix@genpt.com
The History Channel - USA
Email: dan.davids@AETN.com
Porter Novelli
Email: helen.ostrowski@porternovelli.com
Holland America Line (Carnival Corporation)
Email: skruse@hollandamerica.com
Email: abuckelew@carnival.com
Scholastic Corporation
Email: investor_relations@scholastic.com
St. Martin's Press, LLC (Verlagsgruppe Georg von Holtzbrinck)
Email: matthew.baldacci@stmartins.com
Email: markus.schunk@holtzbrinck.com
Susan B. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation
Email: ptosi@komen.org
Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation, Puget Sound Affiliate
Email: gail@pskomen.org
Boy Scouts of America, National Council
Email:lhopkins@netbsa.org
Workman Publishing Company
Email: info@workman.com
Girl Scouts of the USA
Email: media@girlscouts.org
Avid Microchips (Avid Identification Systems, Inc.)
Email: sales@AvidID.com
Microtel Inns (US Franchise Systems, Inc.)
Email: public.relations@usfsi.com
STIHL (STIHL Group)
Email: public.relations@stihl.us
Email: stefan.caspari@stihl.de
EMC Corporaton
Email: AuditCommitteeChairman@emc.com
Eastern Mountain Sports (EMS)
Email: corporatesales@ems.com
Wellness Community Greater Boston
Email: lkoenigsberg@wellnesscommunity.org
National Association of Collegiate Women Athletes Administration
Email: jalley@nacwaa.org
Prevent Blindness America
Email: dgarrett@preventblindness.org
United States Association of Blind Athletes
Email: rortiz@usaba.org
Antigo Middle School
Email: dknol@antigoschools.k12.wi.us
Plainfield Community Consolidated School District
Email: spicchi@learningcommunity202.org
North High School
Email:tfiedler@ecasd.k12.wi.us
Email: wklaus@ecasd.k12.wi.us
University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire
Email: newsbur@uwec.edu
Thompson Elementary School
Email: denise.roberts@indian-river.k12.fl.us
Email: Linda.Robertson@indian-river.k12.fl.us
National Center University of Missouri System
Email: beglaum@emints.org
Avon East Elementary School
Email: Szczepanskis@avon.k12.oh.us
Massachusetts School Library Media Association
Email: dsmith@mslma.org
MassCUE, Inc.
Email: lekeating@comcast.net
Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development (ASCD)
Email: rhanzelka@mchsi.com
Foundation for Excellence
Email: cerdey@learningcommunity202.org
Bartholomew County Public Library
Email: library@barth.lib.in.us
Cesar Chavez Elementary School
Email: School_Board@montebello.k12.ca.us
Education World (EDMIN.com)
Email: contact@EDMIN.com
Charles C. Cashman Elementary School
Email: suzi@ci.amesbury.ma.us
Burson-Marsteller
Email: Ken_Rietz@was.bm.com
Foundation Fighting Blindness
Email: info@blindness.org
Copper Country Community Arts Center
Email: ccarts@chartermi.net
Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs
Email: artsinfo@michigan.gov
Schneck School
Email: gcalloway@schenck.org
MUSHER SPONSORS:
Morgan Stanley
Email: communitymatters@morganstanley.com
Celeste Pizza (Pinnacle Foods Group, Inc.)
Email: Media_Inquiries@pinnaclefoodscorp.com
Second Wind Energy Snack (S&M NuTec, LLC) - (Makes GREENIES)
Email: info@greenies.com
Burger King Corporation
Email: rklein@whopper.com
International House of Pancakes (IHOP, Corp.)
Email: stacy.roughan@ihop.com
Ace Hardware
Email: myace@acehardware.com
Energizer Batteries (Energizer Holdings, Inc.)
Email: BatteryInfo@Energizersales.com
The Dish Network (EchoStar Communications Corp.)
Email: press@echostar.com
Sportsman's Wearhouse
Email: info@sportsmanswarehouse.com
Jiffy Lube International, Inc. (Shell Oil Company)
Email: mpaine@coneinc.com
Email: ir-hague@shell.com
Louisiana-Pacific Corporation
Email: marketing.center@lpcorp.com
CELLULARONE (Dobson Communications Corp.)
Email: tjacobs@dobson.net
Stancorp Financial Group, Inc.
Email: info@standard.com
Eukanuba/Iams (Procter & Gamble Company)
Email: Shareholders.IM@pg.com
Blockbuster Video
Email: investor.relations@blockbuster.com
McDonalds Restaurants (McDonald Corporation)
Email: contact.privacy@mcd.com
Ford Motor Company
Email: wford@ford.com
General Motors
Email: john.devine@gm.com
Taco Bell/Denali Foods (Franchisor: Yum! Brands, Inc.)
Email: tricon.investor@tricon-yum.com
Outdoor Life Network (Comcast Corp.)
Email: amy_phillips@olntv.com
Email: amy_banse@comcast.com
UGI Corporation (AmeriGas)
Email: nationalaccounts@amerigas.com
Alacer Corp.
Email: bhehn@alacer.com
Polar Max
Email: trey.harris@polarmax.com
Quench Gum (Mueller Sports Medicine, Inc.)
Email: sportcare@muellersportsmed.com
Polaris Industries Inc.
Email: richard.edwards@polarisind.com
Tollgrade Communications, Inc.
Email: info@tollgrade.com
Eyak Tek (Eyak Technology, LLC)
Email: Sales@eyaktek.com
Big R Stores
Email: bigr@bigr.com
Equinox Industries Ltd.
Email: equinox@eqnx.biz
NEOS Overshoe
Email: neos@overshoe.com
National Pet Products
Email: info@nationaldogfood.com
Northern Outfitters
Email: mail@northernoutfitters.com
Eagle Premium Pet Foods/Eagle Pet Products, Inc.
mail: jdc@eaglepack.com
Dogbooties.com (a division of Arrowhead Fabric)
Email: info@dogbooties.com
Grabber Performance Group
Email: international@grabberwarmers.com
Blackwood Dog Food (The Blackwood Corporation)
Email: info@blackwoodpetfood.com
Redpaw Feeds
Email: redpaw@cheqnet.net
Fogtech
Email: gene@motosolutions.com
Edmund Industrial Optics
Email: sales@edmundoptics.com
American Dehydrated Foods, Inc.
Email: info@adfinc.com
Atta Boy (American Nutrition, Inc.)
Email: feedback@amnutrition.com
Wilder Construction Company
Email: wilderinfo@wilderconstruction.com
Adventure Unlimited Ranches
Email: info@adventureunlimited.org
Batteries Plus
Email: franchising@batteriesplus.com
Grossman Chevrolet
Email: rputney@grossmanchev.com
Royal Canin USA, Inc.
Email: info@royalcanin.us
Pro Pac Pet Food (Midwestern Pet Foods, Inc. )
Email: contact@propacpetfood.com
Cold Spot Feeds
Email: info@coldspotfeeds.com
Isis for Women
Email: info@isisforwomen.com
Sleep Diagnostics of Michigan
Email: rmacauley@michigansleep.com
Auburn University Veterinary Sports Medicine Program
Email: boositr@vetmed.auburn.edu
Lowa Outdoor and Ski Boots
Email: ingrid@lowaboots.com
Tomahawk Log & Country Homes
Email: sales@tomahawklog.com
Timbernet, Inc.
Email: jim@ruralpropertyinvestments.com
Mountain House Freeze Dried Foods (Oregon Freeze Dry, Inc.)
Email: Michelle.Stalford@ofd.com
Compositech
Email: dennis@composite-tech.com
Quick Heat Warmers (Import Merchandisers, Inc.)
Email: gurken@newnorth.net
Independence Excavating, Inc.
Email: inquiries@indexc.com
Deland Middle School
Email: mkrajews@mail.volusia.k12.fl.us
Email: masmith@mail.volusia.k12.fl.us
Stormy Kromer Mercantile
Email: info@stormykromer.com
American Longevity
Email: comments@americanlongevity.net
First National Bank - Minnesota
Email: businessloan.stpeter@fnbmn.com
Moneydots.com
Email: barbra@moneydots.com
Rocky Ridge Elementary
Email: fschnoor@bcs.k12.oh.us
Graytown Elementary
Email: mwittman@bcs.k12.oh.us
Danbury local schools (Ohio)
Email: fanningm@danbury.k12.oh.us
East Bradford Elementary
Email: ahelion@wcasd.net
WJJQ Radio
Email: wjjq@wjjq.com
Murphy Desmond Law Offices
Email: email@murphydesmond.com
Wheelin' Sportsmen Program (National Wildlife Turkey Foundation)
Email: jharling@nwtf.net
OddsOn Recording
Email: Sales@oddsonrecording.com
Metal Magic
Email: files@metalmagic.com
Building Industry Association of Clark County
Email: kgroen@biaofclarkcounty.org
Nature Cure Bee Caps
Email: herbsallin1@yahoo.com
Northern Outfitters
Email: DWalker@NorthernOutfitters.com
Evaz Group
Email: john@evaz.ca
Fotograf Ann Sissel Jenssen
Email: fotograf@annsissel.no
Glen Grove Elementary School
Email:mbrownlow@glenview34.org
Hoffman School
Email: ghill@glenview34.org
Westbrook Elementary School
Email: lhinton@glenview34.org
Amaize (Marsland Laboratories)
Email message box: www.amaize.com/dealer_inq.htm
Dr. Tim's Pet Food Company
Email message box: www.drtims.com/contact.htm
