nome post!

I've been to Nome. Neat place. Also spent a few weeks on St. Laurence Island. Good times.

Anybody remember Fat Albert?

He was the first lead dog media star, in the 1970s.

Juno the race was originally about getting vaccines to sick people right?

my money is on BALTO

I feel about the Iditarod much the same way I feel about the Kentucky Derby -- it's kind of cool, but it makes me uncomfortable, because I get the feeling that animals are being pushed beyond their limits for glory they can't understand, that goes to the people who made them do things they wouldn't have done on their own.

jake_lex: I feel about the Iditarod much the same way I feel about the Kentucky Derby -- it's kind of cool, but it makes me uncomfortable, because I get the feeling that animals are being pushed beyond their limits for glory they can't understand, that goes to the people who made them do things they wouldn't have done on their own.

You don't think a horse could run a mile and a quarter on its own?

Iditarod?

More like Idiotrod!

Amirite??!?

fred_chan: jake_lex: I feel about the Iditarod much the same way I feel about the Kentucky Derby -- it's kind of cool, but it makes me uncomfortable, because I get the feeling that animals are being pushed beyond their limits for glory they can't understand, that goes to the people who made them do things they wouldn't have done on their own.

You don't think a horse could run a mile and a quarter on its own?

Yes, it would. Just not at the pace and velocity it does in a race. And I doubt some midget would be on his back whipping its ass during that too.

I mean, I'm not saying that racing or the Iditarod should be banned. I'm just saying that it does seem to be really stretching that whole human-animal partnership to its limits, and maybe beyond.

Gary Paulsen's book titled 'Winterdance' is his story of training and competing in the Iditarod in 1982. I thought that it was an incredible story. The part about the skunks was friggin hysterical, and the drama of the race and the conditions was awe-inspiring. IMO, anyone even entering the race has testicles (or ovaries) of steel.

As for the dogs, they are very well treated during the race. Basically the musher exists to guide and care for the dogs, who are technically some of the greatest athletes that Planet Earth has ever seen. The dogs are born and bred and brought up in a lifestyle that suits marathon sledding. It's what they do.

Cosmosis: Iditarod?

More like Idiotrod!

Amirite??!?

More like IKILLEDADOG!

Amirite??!?

jake_lex: I feel about the Iditarod much the same way I feel about the Kentucky Derby -- it's kind of cool, but it makes me uncomfortable, because I get the feeling that animals are being pushed beyond their limits for glory they can't understand, that goes to the people who made them do things they wouldn't have done on their own.

It's interesting that you mention horses and dogs. These two animals will work with their humans until death. Other animals have not shown that type of will to perform. (not sure about camels)

There is a bond that must be experienced to be understood. It is not cruel to let the animal do what it is bred to do.
Please don't say that they should not have been bred for this work, because these breeds, dogs and horses, were formed back when they were vital for human survival.

/Your farking lolcats hate you!

Headline: 34th annual Iditarod to begin today in Alaska. Race begins in Anchorage, is expected to last 11-12 days and will span 1700 miles. NOME NOME NOME

From article: After a day of fun and frolic in downtown Anchorage as part of the traditional "official" opening of the 34-year-old, 1,700-kilometre trek that runs from just north of the city all the way to Nome, the mushers will take off for real on Sunday.

Subby fails. It's kilometers, not miles.

A more bad-ass version started last week.

Iditarod Trail Invitational (new window)

Pedaling a bicycle the 1700km to Nome is slightly more bad-ass than letting a dog team pull you there.

Welcome to the Machine: It is not cruel to let the animal do what it is bred to do.

The truth. It's more cruel to take a dog that is bred to perform a task and keep it cooped up in your house. The working dog as house dog is a very recent development that is proving detrimental to dog mental health. Many dog behavioral issues stem from this.

Approves.

jake_lex: I feel about the Iditarod much the same way I feel about the Kentucky Derby -- it's kind of cool, but it makes me uncomfortable, because I get the feeling that animals are being pushed beyond their limits for glory they can't understand, that goes to the people who made them do things they wouldn't have done on their own.

Trust me, on this one, you're very wrong. Those dogs are taken care of better than the people in the race, because the people in the race know that the dogs are the ones that are going to make sure the humans survive, not the other way around.

It is a grueling race, there's no doubt about that, but the animals are very well trained, very well cared for, and they probably actually enjoy it. My aunt owned a sled dog team. Those dogs were very well cared for, though they were never going to run in anything as strenuous as the Iditarod.

Don't worry, the dogs are all fine. The humans, on the other hand, are the ones that are going to suffer the worst. Worry for them.

/father grew up in Alaska
//Iditarod is a bit of a big thing for him
///wonder how it would go if Shakelton had ever entered

I just moved to Anchorage last week and was able to see the ceremonial start first hand. Neat stuff and interesting to see the streets lined with snow for the sleds

Well, question of ethics aside, there's no doubt the dogs love what they're doing. And that's not so bad.

Go Balto!

Ahh the idiotrod.. where idiots in Alaska race shopping carts

It would be abuse to not let these dogs run. I used to wonder about the ethics of this race but once I moved up here and got a good dose of sled dogs first hand, it's obvious they love what they do when you see them lunging on their chains and are trying to run. They are true athletes and need excellent care to perform.

The real abuse happens when people fall in love with the idea of having a sled dog and coop it up in an apartment while they work 8 to 10 hours a day. The dog inevitably starts destroying things out of boredom and his next stop is chained up alone outside all day. Or worse, to the shelter.

Cheers, subby. I lol'd

Great headline. I lol'd as well.

The Iditarod has veterinarians every 100 miles or something to check the dogs, who are unhappy if they're not racing. Horses also race naturally, although the horse racing industry is not full of nice people. But it's great to watch a horse who usually is forced to walk or trott get the chance to go all out. They love it.

The more you know......

In almost all of the Iditarod races, at least one dog death has occurred. The first race is reported to have resulted in the deaths of 15 to 19 dogs. In 1997, the Anchorage Daily News reported that "at least 107 (dogs) have died." In the years since that report, 23 more dogs have died in the Iditarod, bringing the grand total of dogs who have died in the Iditarod to at least 130. There is no official count of dog deaths available for the race's early years and this count relies only on a reported number of deaths.

Causes of death during the last ten years have included strangulation in towlines, internal hemorrhaging after being gouged by a sled, liver injury, heart failure, and pneumonia. "Sudden death" and "external myopathy," a condition in which a dog's muscles and organs deteriorate during extreme or prolonged exercise, have also been blamed. In 1985 a musher kicked his dog to death. The 1975 Iditarod winner, Jerry Riley, was banned for life in 1990 after being accused of striking his dog with a snow hook (a large, sharp and heavy metal claw). In 1996 Rick Swenson's dog died while he mushed his team through waist-deep water and ice.

jake_lex: I mean, I'm not saying that racing or the Iditarod should be banned. I'm just saying that it does seem to be really stretching that whole human-animal partnership to its limits, and maybe beyond.

That's kinda the point. And Darwin would be proud.

ladyfish2000: The more you know......

In almost all of the Iditarod races, at least one dog death has occurred. The first race is reported to have resulted in the deaths of 15 to 19 dogs. In 1997, the Anchorage Daily News reported that "at least 107 (dogs) have died." In the years since that report, 23 more dogs have died in the Iditarod, bringing the grand total of dogs who have died in the Iditarod to at least 130. There is no official count of dog deaths available for the race's early years and this count relies only on a reported number of deaths.

Causes of death during the last ten years have included strangulation in towlines, internal hemorrhaging after being gouged by a sled, liver injury, heart failure, and pneumonia. "Sudden death" and "external myopathy," a condition in which a dog's muscles and organs deteriorate during extreme or prolonged exercise, have also been blamed. In 1985 a musher kicked his dog to death. The 1975 Iditarod winner, Jerry Riley, was banned for life in 1990 after being accused of striking his dog with a snow hook (a large, sharp and heavy metal claw). In 1996 Rick Swenson's dog died while he mushed his team through waist-deep water and ice.

Which does not change the fact that the dogs love it. People die competing in sports all the time, should we ban those too?

The more you know......

In almost all of the Iditarod races, at least one dog death has occurred. The first race is reported to have resulted in the deaths of 15 to 19 dogs. In 1997, the Anchorage Daily News reported that "at least 107 (dogs) have died." In the years since that report, 23 more dogs have died in the Iditarod, bringing the grand total of dogs who have died in the Iditarod to at least 130. There is no official count of dog deaths available for the race's early years and this count relies only on a reported number of deaths.

Causes of death during the last ten years have included strangulation in towlines, internal hemorrhaging after being gouged by a sled, liver injury, heart failure, and pneumonia. "Sudden death" and "external myopathy," a condition in which a dog's muscles and organs deteriorate during extreme or prolonged exercise, have also been blamed. In 1985 a musher kicked his dog to death. The 1975 Iditarod winner, Jerry Riley, was banned for life in 1990 after being accused of striking his dog with a snow hook (a large, sharp and heavy metal claw). In 1996 Rick Swenson's dog died while he mushed his team through waist-deep water and ice.

I shoot coyotes, so I'd love to hear what you think about that...

Uncle Karl: Which does not change the fact that the dogs love it. People die competing in sports all the time, should we ban those too?

I never wrote a word about banning the Iditarod or any other sport. My post merely countered the happy trails b.s. being peddled in previous posts about the dogs all being fine and dandy.

Dogs have died in the race. Dogs will continue to die in the race.

ladyfish2000: Uncle Karl: Which does not change the fact that the dogs love it. People die competing in sports all the time, should we ban those too?

I never wrote a word about banning the Iditarod or any other sport. My post merely countered the happy trails b.s. being peddled in previous posts about the dogs all being fine and dandy.

Dogs have died in the race. Dogs will continue to die in the race.

thankfully my dog doesn't race, so she'll live forever!!!! HOORAY!!!

/i'm pretty sure most people realize racing 10 days through alaska could be dangerous...

ladyfish2000:

I never wrote a word about banning the Iditarod or any other sport. My post merely countered the happy trails b.s. being peddled in previous posts about the dogs all being fine and dandy.

Dogs have died in the race. Dogs will continue to die in the race.

That's going to be a given. They're racing through Alaska in the middle of the winter, shiat is going to happen, and Murphy is going to be there every part of the way. It's sad, but true.

And, for the people who do abuse their dogs out there, well, they're the scum of the Earth. Any good racer knows that their dogs are the ones who are going to get them out of that situation. Beating their dogs is just asking for Darwin to make them get stuck out there.

/it's an extreme sport, things happen that no one can predict

Gnome thread?

laebshade: Subby fails. It's kilometers, not miles.

I was simply attempting to stealthily thwart the French.

Lies! All Lies! The race begins in Willow...

jake_lex: I feel about the Iditarod much the same way I feel about the Kentucky Derby -- it's kind of cool, but it makes me uncomfortable, because I get the feeling that animals are being pushed beyond their limits for glory they can't understand, that goes to the people who made them do things they wouldn't have done on their own.

You cannot make a sled dog pull a sled. Period.

These are breeds who think for themselves (they have to, you are putting your life in their paws out in the wilderness) and have no problem challenging their owner for alpha status if they don't like something.

And yes I know what I'm talking about, have a pack of dogs, friends with dog teams numbering into the dozens, getting a kick, etc.

The participants keep asking, "Why are all these Koreans following us around?"

wa-geek: jake_lex: I feel about the Iditarod much the same way I feel about the Kentucky Derby -- it's kind of cool, but it makes me uncomfortable, because I get the feeling that animals are being pushed beyond their limits for glory they can't understand, that goes to the people who made them do things they wouldn't have done on their own.

You cannot make a sled dog pull a sled. Period.

These are breeds who think for themselves (they have to, you are putting your life in their paws out in the wilderness) and have no problem challenging their owner for alpha status if they don't like something.

And yes I know what I'm talking about, have a pack of dogs, friends with dog teams numbering into the dozens, getting a kick, etc.

can i be your friend?

/thinks the whole thing is sweet but is stuck in the stupid midwest

Stuck in the Midwest? Then you shoulda come out for the Chiditarod (new window). It's just like the Alaska Iditarod, except with shopping carts. And people instead of dogs. And it's about a 2-mile race. And everyone, including the racers, gets blind drunk. And instead of diphtheria vaccine, they're delivering canned goods for an AIDS service organization.

/okay, so the drunk part is the only resemblance...

I'm kind of mixed on the Iditarod, also. I realize that the dogs are for the most part well cared for, but the fact remains that when competition is involved, the people competing will push the animals they are using for competition to their limits. I'd almost put money on the assumption that the doofus who got banned for whipping his dog with a snow hook did so because the dog wasn't performing up to his standards and, in his mind, denying him a winning spot in the race.

I'd feel a lot better if the Iditarod were run with snowmobiles, or better yet, let the humans pull their own damned sleds.

I'd like to see humans pulling sleds full of dogs.

nucular bum: Stuck in the Midwest? Then you shoulda come out for the Chiditarod (new window). It's just like the Alaska Iditarod, except with shopping carts. And people instead of dogs. And it's about a 2-mile race. And everyone, including the racers, gets blind drunk. And instead of diphtheria vaccine, they're delivering canned goods for an AIDS service organization.

/okay, so the drunk part is the only resemblance...

DAMN! it was yesterday! if i had known, i did nothing this weekend, i would have shown up for sure

i gotta call my friends in chicago and yell at them for not telling me

/makes a note for next year

"I'd feel a lot better if the Iditarod were run with snowmobiles"

That race is called the Iorn Dog. It is from wasilla to nome then to Fairbanks, much longer than the Iditarod. Also the govenor's husband has been on the winning team the last few years.

Dog sledding is the state sport. Not letting these dogs run would be cruel and unusual. With the exception of a few bad apples the mushers never hit a dog. If they do they will be banned. The mushers can not make the dogs run. The mushers run beside or behind the sleds for much of the distance. Until you come wach a race you should hold judgement.

garnede: "I'd feel a lot better if the Iditarod were run with snowmobiles"

That race is called the Iorn Dog. It is from wasilla to nome then to Fairbanks, much longer than the Iditarod. Also the govenor's husband has been on the winning team the last few years.

Dog sledding is the state sport. Not letting these dogs run would be cruel and unusual. With the exception of a few bad apples the mushers never hit a dog. If they do they will be banned. The mushers can not make the dogs run. The mushers run beside or behind the sleds for much of the distance. Until you come wach a race you should hold judgement.

Good Points all around. The dogs are born to run. If a dogs does die during the race, and the musher is found to have neglected the dog (example: running the dog to hard, hitting the dog, ect..) the musher is immediately disqualified from the race. The mushers can "drop" a dog along the trail at a check point and have it flown home. The musher must take two 8 hour layovers at check points and one 24 hour layover as well.

They also have vets stationed along the rout as well: Here (new window)

Wikipedia (new window)

No dog death can be considered "acceptable" and the stats quoted are accurate. But it has to be pointed out that typically, more than 1100 dogs run the Iditarod every year. I'd be curious to know -- seriously -- how many city dogs per thousand die during a similar 9-14 day period.

The dogs are well cared-for and they don't die from neglect or abuse. On that basis, I don't have a problem with the Iditarod.