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'Howl' for Yukon Sled Dogs Campaign |
In the past few years in the Yukon, advocacy on behalf of our local 'sled dogs' has become increasingly more of an issue in the public eye. Questions have been asked in a public forum by a very few local advocates on behalf of 'sled dogs,' questioning those authorities who are responsible (Yukon Quest organization, the various levels of government, the Yukon education system, Yukon media, local businesses and individuals) for perpetuating sled dog cruelty and exploitation. Instead of taking steps to end the mistreatment to which these dogs are subjected, the 'powers that be' celebrate this cruelty by supporting and promoting brutal events like the Yukon Quest International Sled Dog Race, and by marketing to the rest of the world, the use of sled dogs for tourism purposes (sled dog tours). Yukon residents who are concerned about the welfare of these dogs can attest to being exposed to a steady diet of dog mushing propaganda, especially from media like CBC Yukon, CKRW 'Radio Whitehorse,' the Whitehorse Daily Star, and from the (expensive and offensive) banners which proudly hang from lamp standards every winter, along the streets of Whitehorse in honour of the Yukon Quest. In March of 2007, the Canada Winter Games committee in Whitehorse plastered the town with their own 'dog mushing logo' banners and advertising materials to help promote the Yukon as a dog mushing paradise. This is an absolute travesty, as this 'rose-coloured glasses' view of the Yukon dog mushing industry belies the truth of how these dogs actually live and die, in servitude to the ego and greed of their exploiters, for the entertainment purposes of ignorant and uncaring race fans. We implore animal lovers from outside the Yukon to write letters to Tourism Yukon, the City of Whitehorse, the Whitehorse and Yukon Chambers of Commerce, and CBC Yukon, asking them to cease and desist in their complicity in contributing to Yukon animal cruelty. Most Yukoners are apathetic or are outright supportive of this disgraceful sled dog race. Those Yukoners who are opposed to the event do not feel comfortable speaking out in public against the 'sacred cow' Yukon Quest. We also urge you write to Yukon media asking that they do some investigative reporting when writing or broadcasting about the dog mushing industry, and also to Yukon educators imploring them to stop promoting the Yukon Quest to Yukon school children. Sending copies of your letters to Whitehorse newspapers will help in the cause. Immediately prior to the start of the 2007 Quest race, a veteran Yukon Quest musher asked the Quest organization to admit that the culling/killing of sled dogs (which includes killing puppies) was a part of the competitive sled dog racing world, and suggested that the organization take measures to discourage it (the Quest does not have a policy on culling). Furthermore, this musher suggested that pledges be secured from prospective racers stating that they do not cull dogs. A senior Quest official's response was that the culling issue was "not [the Quest's] business." This should have been an explosive media story, but the news was received with a 'ho-hum' attitude from Yukoners, no further investigation was done by media, and the story died quickly. For this reason alone, race supporters should have bailed out of supporting this dog-abusing, dog-KILLING event, but apparently the numerous Quest race supporters (including to its shame, the Territory's tourism department) do not care about the senseless disregard for the dogs any more than the Quest organization itself cares. WE ASK THAT YOU SEND A STRONG MESSAGE that a Territory with such a cavalier attitude (and a complete lack of regulation and oversight of dog mushing operations) towards animal mistreatment will not likely attract you, as animal lovers, to visit the Yukon as tourists. Please do this on behalf of all the chained dogs in the Yukon, the discarded dogs, all those dogs who have suffered and died during the quarter century the Yukon Quest race has been staged, and all those dogs who serve as beasts of burden for man in the 21st Century. The dogs ask that you please write in a respectful manner! Please visit the following websites to learn more about sled dog exploitation and abuse: http://sleddogwatchdog.com http://helpsleddogs.org http://www.hsus.org/pets/issues_affecting_our_pets/facts_about_the_iditarod.html http://www.peta.org/feat-iditarod.asp http://www.peta.org.uk/factsheet/files/FactsheetDisplay.asp?ID=213 Thank you for caring about sled dogs. JOIN THE CAMPAIGN! Campaign 1: No more public funding for the Yukon Quest Campaign 2: Message to Yukon Quest sponsors and supporters Campaign 3: No more Yukon Quest propaganda in Yukon classrooms Campaign 4: Need for responsible reporting about 'sled dog' cruelty and exploitation SUPPORTING INFORMATION: Yukon Quest sponsors - Proud sponsors of animal cruelty! Government partners: Government of Yukon Department of Tourism and Culture Government of Canada (Indian and Northern Affairs Canada) City of Fairbanks City of Whitehorse Fairbanks North Star Borough U.S. National Park Service U.S. Bureau of Land Management Government of Yukon Department of Economic Development Alaska State Parks/Snow TRAC City of Dawson Selkirk First Nation Village of Carmacks Little Salmon/Carmacks First Nation Kwanlin Dun First Nation (major supplier of neglected and unwanted dogs to Whitehorse City Pound and Mae Bachur Animal Shelter) Media partners: Whitehorse Daily Star CKRW - The Rush 96.1 FM Major sponsors: Alaskan Pipeline Project/TransCanada Pipelines/ExxonMobil NorthwesTel Gwich'in Devlopment Corporation Official suppliers/sponsors: Alpine Lodge. Fairbanks, AK Frontier Flying, AK High Country Inn - Whitehorse Lotteries Yukon Lynden Transport Norcan Sales, Rentals & Leasing Northern Outfitters Spot Satellite Messenger and Tackleaders.com Trademark Screen Printing - Embroidery - Awards 'Lead dog' sponsors: 5th Avenue Design & Graphics, Inc. Air Arctic Air North - Yukon's Airline Apocalypse Design, Fairbanks, AK Arctic Amateur Radio Club Everts Air, AK Fairbanks Memorial Hospital Fred Meyer Department Stores HughesNet North Star Computing, Fairbanks, AK Northern Alaska Tour Company Princess Lodges Santa's Stitches Skookum Asphalt, Whitehorse Sourdough Fuel, Fairbanks, AK Spenard Builders' Supply, AK Spirit of Alaska Federal Credit Union Wells Fargo Western Copper Corp. White Pass & Yukon Route Yukon Engineering Services Yukon Wild 'Team dog' sponsors: Alaska Army National Guard Alaska Coffee Roasting Company Alaska Tent & Tarp Alpine Aviation, Whitehorse ATCO Group The Chocolate Claim, Whitehorse Fraserway RV Rentals Frontier Opportunities GCI Klondike Business Solutions, Whitehorse Lithia Chevrolet Cadillac of Fairbanks Loco-Lobo.com Manitoulin Transport North Haven Communities North of Ordinary Powerhouse Signs Stratos Global Summit Logistics Taiga Ventures Usibelli Coal Mine Yukon Energy 'Swing dog' sponsors: Alaska Aerofuel Alaska Pacific Leasing Alaska USA Federal Credit Union Alaska USA Insurance Brokers Alaska USA Mortgage & Real Estate Lending Aurora Animal Clinic Axis Insurance Managers Boston Pizza Builders Supplyland Canadian Tire, Whitehorse Cheryl Bradley, CPA Chickenstock Chicken Gold Company Cold Spot Feeds Compeau's Denali Industrial Supply Denali State Bank Denny's Restaurant Fairbanks Convention & Visitor's Bureau Fairbanks Host Lions Horizon Services Hurlburt Enterprises I-CHARR Joe and Wendy Fellers /Fell-Hawker Placer Klondike Visitors Association (KVA) Kluane Freight Lines Laborers Union - Local 942 Lead Dog Graphics Maynard & Associates Midnight Sun Coffee Roasters Northern Power Sports Polarcom Pro Music Rockwell Engineering & Construction Sani-Can Selkirk Grocery Sign-Pro SIR North Country Ranch Take 5 Coffee Lounge Terra Firma Art Company The Odom Corporation Trondek Infomatics TCV/ UAF Culinary Arts Unisource 'Wheel dog' sponsors: Alaska Rubber and Rigging Alsco-American Linens Amerigas Arctic Fire & Safety Arctic Star Printing Bob Eley Carsten Thies Photographer Dimond Fence Company EBA Engineering Consultants Harley-Davidson Farthest North Outpost Horst Expediting & Remote Operations Insanity Acres Ivory Jack's LuLu's Bread & Bagels North End Gallery Quality Sales Sampson True Value Hardware Yukon Pump - 3M Reference for sponsor information: http://www.yukonquest.com/site/current-yukon-quest-sponsors (Yukon Quest website, February 20, 2010) |
[Campaign Introduction] |