Sled Dog Watchdog - Yukon Quest 'Media Villains'

1. Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC North/CBC Yukon):

CBC Yukon uses the public airwaves to promote a race that (CBC is perfectly aware) kills and injures dogs,
a race that is responsible for killing unknown numbers of dogs and puppies who are bred to compete in
the Quest and other competitive dog mushing events. CBC as a publicly funded media organization is
favourably prediposed towards the race, and these so-called journalists also willingly display their personal
enthusiasm for the race.

Ex-'A New Day' morning show host/sled dog racing fanatic Sandi Coleman - Ms. Coleman acted as
'Mistress of Ceremonies' for the 2007 Quest race start banquet (for a race in which three dogs were killed
and many more injured). Ms. Coleman also apparently breeds and sells Corgi dogs (was heard to make a
birth announcement on radio).

In December of 2007 a local youth group had lured Canadian rock star Sam Roberts and his band up to
do a Whitehorse show in mid-January. The 'bait' for Mr. Roberts and his band was "Yukon beer, wild
game meat, and dog mushing." This story 'went national' on CBC radio, two of the young ladies who were
interviewed by Ms. Coleman promoted the Yukon Quest and dog mushing in the interview (these young
ladies would have a great future with Yukon Tourism). The next day, Ms. Coleman interviewed Sam
Roberts and asked him twice about how excited he was about going on a dog mushing tour. While not
offering up any memorable dog mushing quotes, Roberts played down the 'beer/meat/mushing' aspect by
saying that he was more motivated to play in Whitehorse from the enthusiasm displayed by the young
promoters.

Other big Quest/dog mushing supporters at CBC Yukon are morning show Director Roch
Shannon Fraser, weekend morning show host Bob Unger, 'Lunch Break' host Russ Knutson,
and 'The Afternoon Show' host Dave White.

As a final comment to CBC National ('the Mother Corp'), recently there was a very disturbing feature on
The Fifth Estate program called 'Cruel Camera,' focusing on the exploitation and abuse of 'animals in
entertainment.' How hypocritical of CBC to do a story about this and not mention some of the
animals used in entertainment in Canada (e.g. Yukon Quest sled dogs). It is even more hypocritical
that CBC National and CBC North are big supporters of this exploitation and abuse. The corporation
already produced an expensive dog mushing propaganda film promoting the Quest, but blame needs to
be spread around when even the Canadian Federation of Humane Societies overlooks the exploitation of
sled dogs (not worthy of mention in the 'animals in entertainment' section of the CFHS website). Oh yeah,
CBC also provides much annual favourable television coverage for another example of modern-day
barbarism which should be abolished, Calgary Stampede rodeo events... What is wrong with these
people?!!!

2. Whitehorse Daily Star (Official Yukon Quest Media Sponsor):

Apparently in the newspaper business, being an official media sponsor involves providing numerous
full-page advertising and biased reporting for the Quest on a year round basis. Hopefully this is not paid
for by the Yukon Government's Tourism Marketing Fund, $150,000 of which is used to buy paid
favourable advertising for the Yukon Quest. Critical Quest newspaper coverage is to this day practically
non-existent, other than some good reporting by Kelly-Anne Riess who covered the 2005 Quest (Ms. Riess
did not stay in Whitehorse for long). Unbeknownst to the Star, however, the 'dropped dogs' daily Quest
race statistics say all that needs to be said about the cruel conditions the Quest dogs endure.

3. CKRW Radio Whitehorse - 'The Rush' 96.1 FM (Official Yukon Quest Media Sponsor):

Don't bother listening to this station during Yukon Quest season.

4. Outdoor Life Network:

OLN is up to its neck in animal exploitation, what with being a big media supporter of animal cruelty by its
involvement in covering rodeo events, distributing Iditarod coverage from ESPN, and now this shameful
organization will be promoting the Yukon Quest to the world in 2008.

[Story from Whitehorse Daily Star, January 16th, 2008]
'TV crew to start work in City in February'
by Sarah Niman, Star Reporter

A television crew will be arriving in Whitehorse in February to chronicle the Yukon Quest and Arctic Ultra marathon for the series
'Angry Planet.' The reality adventure series airs on the Outdoor Life Network (OLN).

It follows veteran storm chaser George Kourounis around the world as he investigates various natural phenomena. The show also
appears on the UK Travel Channel, which airs in Australia, Sweden, Finland and Hong Kong. The series has featured avalanches,
tornadoes and even wildfires in past half-hour episodes.

The City of Whitehorse' tourism supervisor, Sheila Dodd, confirmed to the Star the television crew will arrive February 7 and stay
for 10 days shooting footage for their next season. Yukon (Government) Tourism's Rod Raycroft has been handling much of the
preparation. He said anytime a film or television crew comes up to the Yukon, it helps people elsewhere in the country and the
world think of Yukon as a viable visit destination.

Peter Rowe, the show's producer, sent the Star an email, saying, "the new episode is on extreme racing in the hottest and coldest
places in North America." The crew shot a race in Death Valley National Park in the southwestern United States last July, and will
feature the Yukon Quest and Yukon Arctic Ultramarathon as the cold locales.

Rowe also said the Yukon segment of the show will be edited by Marsh Lake resident Michael Vernon.

5. The Discovery Channel ('Out in the Cold' TV series)

Disgusting animal exploiters, highly paid by Government of Yukon for their help in spreading sled dog
propaganda.

Letter to Yukon-based Quest media sponsors:

This is not a letter to the editor. This is a letter to the owners/management of the Yukon-based media sponsors of the Yukon Quest
(the Whitehorse Daily Star and CKRW 'the Rush' radio in Whitehorse).

Our organization would appreciate you responding to the following questions or at least doing some serious reflection about them:

Are you aware that Quest musher Frank Turner brought up the distasteful subject of Quest dog mushers culling dogs, immediately
prior to the 2007 Quest race?

Are you aware that a Quest spokesman did not make any denial about these allegations, but only offered the simple response that
it was not the Quest's business what Quest mushers did in their dog yards?

CBC NORTH STORY (FEB. 9, 2007) - 'VETERAN MUSHER CALLS ON QUEST TO CONFRONT POSSIBLE DOG CULLING':

Mushers running the Yukon Quest International Sled Dog Race should have to sign a declaration that they do not cull unwanted
dogs and puppies, long-time competitor Frank Turner says. Although there have been huge improvements in sled-dog care over the
past several decades, Turner says the issue of culling still needs to come out of the shadows. "Competitive kennels, or even
kennels that may not be competitive but aspire to be, often breed more dogs than they're actually going to be able to keep, afford
to keep and pay for the vet bills, the food and all the other associated costs," Turner told CBC News in a recent pre-race interview.

"If you added up the numbers, there's no way all those other puppies or young dogs are going to be sold or given away to homes.
We're just breeding too many dogs." The Yukon Quest should admit that culling is part of the competitive racing world and take
measures to discourage it, he said. "I mean one of the things that the Quest could do on the entry form is do a declaration - to
participate in the Quest you declare that you do not practice culling of dogs," he said.

The race does not have a policy on culling. Quest race marshal Mike McCowan would not say whether culling is a common practice
when asked about it Thursday. "It's not our business," McCowan said. "I mean it's like going up to somebody and saying, 'How do
you make your bed in your own house?' That's not our business."

http://www.cbc.ca/canada/north/story/2007/02/09/culling-dogs.html?ref=rss

Are you aware that three dogs were killed in the 2007 Quest, many dogs were injured or run past the point of
exhaustion ("dropped dogs")?

Are you aware of the number of dogs who have suffered and died over the years the Quest has been run?

Are you aware that a 'more responsible media source' (Yukon News, also reported by CBC Yukon) reported that
some unknown number of dogs 'froze their private parts' due to extreme cold in the 2007 Quest?

Do either of your businesses receive advertising money from the Yukon Quest or any part of the $150,000 Tourism
Marketing Fund? [Whitehorse Star apparently makes money at least from annual Quest advertising supplement].

If so, are you unconcerned about your readership or audience's views about your ability to provide truthful and
unbiased coverage of this [cruel] event you support?

On behalf of the sled dogs, we thank you for taking the time to answer these questions.

Terry Cumming
SledDogWatchdog.com
Whitehorse
[January 8, 2008]

NOTE: NO RESPONSES WERE EVER RECEIVED FROM THE WHITEHORSE DAILY STAR OR CKRW.