The Race
The Iditarod Sled Race or ‘The Last Great Race on Earth’ as it is called, takes place in the harsh months of winter, in the extreme land of Alaska in the US. The Iditarod sled race is a massive event. It was initiated in the 1960s and is still watched by a lot of people. Dorothy G. Page was the person who first came up with it to make people know about the history of Alaska.
Even though this race is adored by millions of people, it has received severe backlash from animal lovers throughout the world. This is because it causes irreversible damage to a lot of dogs participating in it. The trail is cold, hostile and too arduous for the dogs. According to me, it should definitely be banned as it does not really serve any good purpose other than reviving history.
The Long Haul
It was fun and games when Dorothy Page initiated the race in the 1960s with the purpose of reviving the history of Alaska. The Iditarod sled race at that time used to be only 27 miles long. But it became longer with the US army clearing the trail till Nome in 1973. Almost 2 weeks of total time and a distance of approx 1100 miles- that is how we know the race today! This long haul of 1100 miles results in a lot of injuries to the dogs who have to run almost 100 miles per day. Many of these dogs become scarred for life. But the question is- Is it ok to give up the present and future of these wild animals to revive something that is merely historical? Are we, as humans, justifying being humane despite subjecting another species to such callous treatment?
Deaths
In order to revive history with the help of this race, breeders go in for selective breeding. Many dogs are culled, just because they aren’t “fast enough”. And the ones that are selected don’t live a happy life either. Most of the dogs which participate in the race either die unnatural deaths or get badly injured. Since 1973, over 150 dogs have died during the race. Last year, over 250 dogs were pulled out of the race because of exhaustion, illness, or injury. And the ones that looked “completely fine” were forced to run beyond their breaking point. Just imagine, 150 dogs reported dead and an uncounted figure of the ones that got culled- isn’t it horrific? It is as though we care two hoots for the dogs. Any sane person can understand the horrors related to the race and they would surely advocate a complete ban.
The Extremes
Another eye-opener is the way dogs are treated during the race. While the mushers (sled drivers) sleep in a cabin/ tent, the dogs have to stay outside in the freezing cold weather, tied up to a pole. And if the mushers try to protect the dogs by taking them inside, they are disqualified. The dogs are very likely to get hypothermia since they are exposed to cold weather for long stretches of time. Their legs get swollen, they get chill blains and their wounds become so sore that they do not heal. Out of the dogs that died this year, most of them were ill because of the cold weather or weather-related injuries. Is it really fair to let innocent dogs die just for some entertainment? I think it is highly devilish to chain and keep these dogs in beating harsh weather in the name of exhibiting historical splendour.
There are so many other ways to revive the long-gone history. Instead of having these yearly dog sled races, they can have human races or make it a historical tourist spot. It isn’t really necessary to torture animals for human glory. While the mushers who take part in the race get money and fame, what do the dogs get? NOTHING!
Revolting, horrendous and ghastly- this is how I would describe this race. Dogs die every year and the so-called loving mushers might even put up a tombstone in their memory, but when will people awaken to this nightmare, put together a movement and finally END this gruesome race?
Writer : Dia Ochani
Grade : 9 (Year 2023)
Place : Christchurch, New Zealand
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