[Publib] Animal cruelty

[Sanbornton Public Library]

Margery wrote:

 

<snip>

 

Please don't promote cruel animal events like the Iditarod or the circus.  

My question:

 

Margery,

 

I write from the neighborhood of the annual sled dog races in Laconia, New
Hampshire, with a question. Please accept my post in that spirit. This isn't
a flame.

 

The people I've spoken to about sled dog races -- and the Laconia race is
nowhere near as physically demanding as the Iditarod -- tell me that the
dogs are bred to pull, love to pull, are truly happy when they pull. I don't
own a dog, but what I've seen of friends' dogs and television programs about
dog behavior, I tend to believe that promoting the kind of physical activity
dogs are 'born to' is really in their self interest. My friends' black lab
will go bounding after a tennis ball every single time I throw it. She never
tires of the game before I do. And I've seen the excitement a boarder collie
experiences when it is allowed to herd for the first time.

 

I too believe that there is cruelty in circuses, and I would, as you urge,
not promote them. And I checked the website you sent with your post --
http://www.nahee.org/default.asp -- not in great depth, I admit -- but I
don't see anything there that answers my question either. And after all
this, here comes the question:

 

Do you believe the Iditarod is cruel, or sled dog races in general? Can you
point me to some research that has convinced you? Remember please that this
is not a flame but a request for information, one librarian to another. I
have not actively promoted the local sled dog race, but neither have I taken
steps to steer people away from it, either. (When I was given a stack of
passes [or was it discount coupons? No matter] to a circus appearing
locally, I threw them away rather than distribute them.) If you can raise
this librarian's consciousness about the cruelty of sled dog races, I urge
you to give it a shot. And thank you.

 

Chris Finer

Sanbornton, NH

 

 

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