Time to end sled dog cruelty

 

BREAKING NEWS: VHS reaction to new sled dog care standards.

 

People in BC and around the world were shocked by the revelation that up to100 dogs were brutally killed in Whistler in April of 2010.  The BC SPCA and RCMP continue to investigate the killings.  Also, the government has established a working group to establish standards of care for the industry.

VHS believes that there should be a ban on sled dog tours and racing. We’re concerned about the inherent poor welfare that is widespread in these industries. Sled dogs spend most of their days tethered to posts when they are not pulling sleds, which denies them the opportunity to engage in normal behaviours.  Research has shown that this causes frustration and can lead to abnormal behaviours such as aggression or hyper-vigilance (leading to lack of sleep).  Tethered sled dogs are known to engage in rock-eating, indicative of frustration.

Although the industry says this was an isolated incident, there’s no way to know. Just this summer 50 dogs used in a sled dog business in Montana were shot to death. Their ‘owner’ went on a rampage and only ten dogs out of 60 survived.  The survivors are in the care of a neighbour who will rehabilitate them so they can be adopted out to loving families.

In our experience, the economic exploitation of animals (even when well-intentioned) invariably results in compromising their welfare. We have found this to be the case in zoos, circuses, rodeos, the exotic pet trade and, of course, in animal agriculture. When the animals cease to be of economic value, these industries often fail to take responsibility for their welfare. Whether it’s ex-rodeo or race horses sold at auction for slaughter, unwanted greyhound racers, discarded exotic pets, or aging sled dogs, animals are put at risk when they are treated like commodities.

However, since the working group has decided to establish standards of care, we want these standards to be as strong as possible. On behalf of our supporters, VHS has written to the BC Sled Dog Standards of Care Working Group, and among other things, we have asked for:

• A high ratio of caregivers to dogs to ensure proper socialization, care, feeding and exercise;
• A ban on tethering, except for very specific instances when away from the home base, and only for a short time;
• A prohibition on shooting as a method of euthanizing (right now, it is legal to shoot dogs) and a requirement that dogs be euthanized by a veterinarian, and only for reasons of medical or quality of life issues;
• Zero tolerance for culling (killing) unwanted puppies;
• A ban on ‘cutting’ (amputating) teeth of dogs to prevent injuries during fights.

You can read VHS’s full submission here.

We appreciate all the letters and emails that you’ve sent to the government – we know that they have worked to make everyone involved take this issue seriously.  As soon as the standards are published, we’ll let you know.

 

WHAT YOU CAN DO:

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