Sled Dog Watchdog - Exploiting the image

In the Yukon, a large amount of money and energy is invested in the Yukon Quest by the Yukon
territorial government (the tourism department is a major race sponsor), private businesses and
individuals, and by race volunteers. Many Yukon businesses serve the sled dog industry and profit from
the labours of working sled dogs, including Yukon Quest dogs, who are used as sources of entertainment
for northerners. Proportionately, very little money is invested in improving the conditions in which many
of these dogs live and there is little concern on the part of government about the health of the dogs being
forced to run in the Quest. This lack of concern does not only apply to the welfare of Yukon Quest dogs,
but to the dog yards of some hobby mushers, sled dog tourism operators, and 'dog collectors.' In a letter
to a local newspaper in 2005, I referred to some of these dog yards as 'canine gulags,' which is a perfectly
apt description.

The sled dog business is growing to meet demand in the Yukon, aided by public tourism marketing
funding (the president of the primary tourism industry lobby group is a major sled dog tour operator, and
the executive director of the Yukon Quest sits on the board). Outside of the city limits of Whitehorse,
there are absolutely no regulations stipulating the proper way to treat and house sled dogs. There is no
restriction on the amount of dogs a tourist operation may own. It is worrisome that without any
regulations, the provision of proper housing and general dog care may be of secondary importance to the
actual collecting of the dogs who will 'earn their keep' pulling sleds or carts for tourists, winter and
summer. Should a business fail due to a slump in visitors, there may be little or no refuge available for
the dogs who are no longer needed.

The organizing committee for the 2007 Canada Winter Games in Whitehorse, which was jointly hosted by
Canada's northern territories, chose 'husky mascots' to represent each of the three jurisdictions. The
games committee also decided upon a 'dog mushing logo' for promotional purposes. The Yukon
Territory, NWT, and Nunavut have shameful records for providing animal protection laws along with the
necessary personnel to enforce them. Because of this, there is much suffering inflicted on real husky-type
sled dogs and northern dogs. Dog mushing was under consideration as a 'demonstration sport' for the
2006 Winter Olympics and mushing proponents continue to lobby for its inclusion as an official sport.
This would undoubtedly exponentially increase the number of people who will be motivated to take up
competitive mushing, and will attract untold suffering on the dogs who will be drafted into 'the sport' to
bring glory to existing and new mushers.