In dire contrast to the usual integrity of NPR reporting, too often stories involving animals, include little attention to related abuse.   Specifically today in coverage of the Iditarod, not a word was said about the annually reported abuse, stress, injuries, and often death of the sled dogs in this gruelling race.  Activists continue to call for  greater oversight and protections of the dogs, and still yearly come the sickening  accounts of  dogs injured, sometimes abandoned on the trail, or discarded after the race.

Anyone who has ever lived with a Husky or a Malamute knows this noble breed, famed for their galant endurance in life-saving serum runs to combat the epidemics 100 years ago, will run themselves to death if asked.  NO ANIMAL should be subjected  to such exploitation for a "prize" for the winning driver.   

The disgustingly self-serving argument of the "industry"  is that it "improves the breed", as if this (as always) money-driven event is necessary to preserve the magnificent Arctic Breeds.  

The Iditarod has evolved (devolved?) into a spectacle at the expense of the dogs, and no better ethically than fox hunting in the UK, bull fighting in Spain, cockfights and  animal sacrifices everywhere, canned hunts, clubbing of baby seals in Canada, dolphin slaughter in Japan, and other barbaric crimes against animals too numerous to list here.

If we cannot summon enough empowered officials to halt this needless abuse, WE MUST HAVE GREATER OVERSIGHT, STRICTER RULES FOR THE PROTECTION AND CARE OF THE DOGS, AND A MUCH SHORTER RACE COURSE!