Sled Dog Watchdog - Inuvik dog race photos

May 11, 2007: The following photos were received from Philippe Morin, a young newspaper reporter
based in Inuvik, Northwest Territories. He felt it was important that these photos be seen by the public
(a welcome change in attitude from the many reporters who give 'the sport' of sled dog racing 'an easy
ride,' journalistically speaking).

The first two photos were taken at an Inuvik dog race in the winter of 2007 and show a dog who has
had some teeth broken and/or knocked out during the race for unknown reasons. The third photo of
the dog with the injured eye was taken at a dog race in late 2006 in another Delta community. The
contributor noted that he had only ever been to two dog races and had seen injured dogs at both
races.

It is highly doubtful that there was any veterinary care at these races as there is no permanent
veterinarian in either community. Racing sled dogs can become injured for numerous reasons
including from fights with other dogs. Most of the participants in these community races are First
Nations mushers.

Please take a tour of Philippe's great InuvikPhotos.ca blog!

"It was about -25c when I saw this dog in Tuktoyaktuk. Notice he's completely exposed to wind, with
no doghouse and nothing but a metal chain on ice.

Now, I realize that dogs are often coddled in the South --- to the point of people buying them mini
sweaters and pet haircuts and other things --- but I find this rather upsetting!

Even the huskiest of winter dogs probably feels a -30 windchill. It seems uncaring to just leave a dog
outside in the Arctic and not even give him a cardboard box."

Philippe Morin