Is the Iditarod Cruel to Dogs?The Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race U.S. dogsled race. It is held each March and run over a route between Anchorage and Nome, Alaska. It originated in 1967 as a race of about 25 mi (40 km), but by 1973 it had evolved into the current race, a 1,100-mi (1,800-km) trek roughly tracing is one of the most famous sporting events in Alaska. Each year, dozens of dog-and-musher teams race 1,150 miles from Anchorage to Nome in pursuit of thousands of dollars in prize money. Sometimes called "The Last Great Race on Earth," the Iditarod trail Noun 1. Iditarod Trail - a trail that extends 1,100 miles from Anchorage over the Alaska Range to Nome AK, Alaska, Last Frontier - a state in northwestern North America; the 49th state admitted to the union; "Alaska is the largest state in the United States" stretches across jagged mountain ranges, frozen rivers, forests, and miles of windswept wind·swept adj. Exposed to or swept by winds: windswept moors. windswept Adjective 1. coast. Add to that below-zero temperatures and, blinding winds, and you have a long and difficult race. Some people say it's too difficult--especially for the dogs. Many animal-rights groups say that racing dogs in such brutal conditions is cruel, and they want it stopped. What do you think? Is the Iditarod cruel to dogs? Read both arguments, then decide. Yes The race is cruel Often, mushers (people who drive the dogsled) care more about winning than about the safety of their dogs. Dog deaths and injuries during Iditarod races prove that the dogs are pushed too hard during the race. At least one sled dog sled dog Any working dog used to pull a sled carrying people and supplies across snow and ice. The breeds most commonly used are the Alaskan malamute, Laika, Samoyed, and Siberian husky. All are powerful dogs with a thick coat and high endurance. See also Eskimo dog. has died each year racing in the Iditarod. "The Iditarod is just bad for dogs," says Dug Hanbicki of the Humane Society. "Anything where you ask the dogs to run over a thousand miles is just asking for trouble." Critics, including the Humane Society, have charged that some mushers even kill sled dogs and puppies that aren't healthy enough to race. No The race is not cruel Mushers spend a lot of time, energy, and money to make sure that their dogs are healthy and happy. "We spend 12 to 14 hours a day with our dogs," says musher mush 1 n. 1. A thick porridge or pudding of cornmeal boiled in water or milk. 2. Something thick, soft, and pulpy. 3. Informal Mawkish sentimentality, affection, or amorousness. tr.v. Rainy Brooks. "We love those dogs." People have to remember that sled dogs are professional athletes. And like professional athletes, they can be injured, sometimes fatally, in competition. But there are more than 30 veterinarians Veterinarians and veterinary surgeons (vets) are medical professionals who operate exclusively on animals. Well-known and notable veterinarians include:
vet·er·i·nar·i·an n. . |
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