The Iditarod Is Mush Twenty-one dogs died in the Iditarod Dog Sled Race from 1990 to 1995 (Derr, “The Perilous” 119+). That is just over a span of five years. Now take into account that the Iditarod started in 1973. Innocent dogs were harmed when the race started and innocent dogs are continuing to be harmed today. Some people say that the Iditarod is an important part of Alaska’s history and that everyone involved loves it, but scientific studies have shown that dogs receive many injuries and no one would enjoy being hurt. Even though the Iditarod is a very famous and exciting sport dogs love to run in, the Iditarod should be greatly modified or abolished because many of the dogs are abused and neglected by their owners and multiple dogs
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The deaths and injuries of dogs have caused the Iditarod to lose many of its sponsors (Derr, “The Controversial” 37). Dogs die from moose attacks, broken necks, snowmobile collisions, heart failure, and myopathy (Derr, “The Controversial” 37). Myopathy is a disease involving the breakdown of muscle tissue. Bitter cold, hurricane force winds, and fierce blizzards also claimed the lives of many dogs (Derr, “The Controversial” 37). Imagine all the suffering the dogs went through in these harsh weather conditions. Some mushers even drop their dogs out of the race because the dogs have sore feet, sprains, fractures, and exhaustion (Derr, “The Perilous” 119+). That is a terrible way to die.
No one, not even the staff of the race, enjoys hearing about the deaths and all of the negative news that come from them. Veterinarians check the dogs periodically, partially because of all the deaths (Derr, “The Controversial” 37). Even though certain precautions have been taken, dogs deaths have still not been omitted (Derr, “The Controversial” 37). It seems as if the deaths of dogs are almost impossible to prevent and that the precautions taken are not good enough. If the deaths cannot be stopped, then there is no point of continuing the …show more content…
Several dogs were injured in 2016 because a man hit two teams while he was riding a snow machine. To prevent this whole incident from occurring, the Iditarod Trail Committee could have roped off the course because then anyone that was not in the race could not interfere with the racers and their dogs. It would be a simple yet effective precaution. Dogs are not the only ones that are injured during the race. Mushers and their dogs have been attacked by moose and the blizzards and sub-zero temperatures are not pleasant for anyone (“Gone” 3+). However, the mushers do have multiple layers of clothing to keep them warm whereas the dogs only wear booties on their feet. Fur alone will not keep the dog’s warm in the freezing temperatures. Margery Glickman, the creator of The Sled Dog Action Coalition, says the race is, “physically punishing for the animals” (“Gone” 3+). Scientific reports show that dogs are anemic and suffer from lung damage, frozen extremities, torn muscles, and dehydration after the race (“Gone” 3+). “Huskies like to run, but that doesn’t mean they want to run 1,150 miles in eight to fifteen days,” says Glickman (“Gone” 3+). Humans like partaking in activities but that does not mean that they want to do it until they are anemic and dehydrated like
The deaths and injuries of dogs have caused the Iditarod to lose many of its sponsors (Derr, “The Controversial” 37). Dogs die from moose attacks, broken necks, snowmobile collisions, heart failure, and myopathy (Derr, “The Controversial” 37). Myopathy is a disease involving the breakdown of muscle tissue. Bitter cold, hurricane force winds, and fierce blizzards also claimed the lives of many dogs (Derr, “The Controversial” 37). Imagine all the suffering the dogs went through in these harsh weather conditions. Some mushers even drop their dogs out of the race because the dogs have sore feet, sprains, fractures, and exhaustion (Derr, “The Perilous” 119+). That is a terrible way to die.
No one, not even the staff of the race, enjoys hearing about the deaths and all of the negative news that come from them. Veterinarians check the dogs periodically, partially because of all the deaths (Derr, “The Controversial” 37). Even though certain precautions have been taken, dogs deaths have still not been omitted (Derr, “The Controversial” 37). It seems as if the deaths of dogs are almost impossible to prevent and that the precautions taken are not good enough. If the deaths cannot be stopped, then there is no point of continuing the …show more content…
Several dogs were injured in 2016 because a man hit two teams while he was riding a snow machine. To prevent this whole incident from occurring, the Iditarod Trail Committee could have roped off the course because then anyone that was not in the race could not interfere with the racers and their dogs. It would be a simple yet effective precaution. Dogs are not the only ones that are injured during the race. Mushers and their dogs have been attacked by moose and the blizzards and sub-zero temperatures are not pleasant for anyone (“Gone” 3+). However, the mushers do have multiple layers of clothing to keep them warm whereas the dogs only wear booties on their feet. Fur alone will not keep the dog’s warm in the freezing temperatures. Margery Glickman, the creator of The Sled Dog Action Coalition, says the race is, “physically punishing for the animals” (“Gone” 3+). Scientific reports show that dogs are anemic and suffer from lung damage, frozen extremities, torn muscles, and dehydration after the race (“Gone” 3+). “Huskies like to run, but that doesn’t mean they want to run 1,150 miles in eight to fifteen days,” says Glickman (“Gone” 3+). Humans like partaking in activities but that does not mean that they want to do it until they are anemic and dehydrated like