ALERT: Who's supporting Iditarod dog torture in 2006?

[Guest guest]

PLEASE WRITE AND FORWARD

 

From the Sled Dog Action Coalition, http://www.helpsleddogs.org

 

Please help the Iditarod dogs by sending protest emails to race supporters.

These dogs are helpless victims of profoundly inhumane treatment and cannot

speak for themselves.  A list of what happens to them during the Iditarod

includes death, paralysis, penile frostbite, bleeding ulcers, broken bones,

pneumonia, torn muscles and tendons, diarrhea, vomiting, hypothermia, fur loss,

broken

teeth, viral diseases, torn footpads, ruptured discs, sprains, anemia and lung

damage.

 

How do sick animals run the 1,100 miles across frozen tundra and through icy

waters? Veterinarians give them massive doses of antibiotics to keep them

going. Anemia tires the dogs but mushers force them to run mile after grueling

mile. No one knows how many dogs die after this tortuous ordeal or during

training.

 

Please send protest emails to race supporters using the list below of

organizations that are 2006 Iditarod race sponsors, musher sponsors, or Iditarod

promoters. Emails are first given in block form and then individually under the

sample letter. Email addresses with semi-colons in block form can be found at

http://www.helpsleddogs.org/sponsors.htm on the bottom of the page.

 

ALL EMAIL ADDRESSES - for easy sending, copy and paste as a bunch into your

" Blind Copy " box: 

 

communitymatters, Media_Inquiries,

info, rklein, stacy.roughan,

myace, media, press,

helen.ostrowski, Customer.Service,

ir.dcx,

pressinquiries, marketing,

investorrelations,

kroger.investors, chendricks,

enterprise.comments, newsroom,

jill.zanger, mark.parker,

jerry_nix, dan.davids, skruse,

abuckelew, matthew.baldacci,

markus.schunk,

ptosi, lhopkins, info, media,

sales, public.relations, public.relations,

AuditCommitteeChairman,  corporatesales, aritchie,

marketing.center, tjacobs, info,

Shareholders.IM, investor.relations,

contact.privacy,

amy_phillips, bhehn, trey.harris,

sportcare, richard.edwards,

bbutter,

Sales, bigr, equinox, neos,

info, ssolomon, gisx,

employment,

investor_relations, gail,

lkoenigsberg, jalley,

dgarrett, rortiz,

spicchi, wklaus,

tfiedler, newsbur,

denise.roberts,

Linda.Robertson, beglaum,

Szczepanskis,

lekeating, rhanzelka, contact,

library, School_Board,

webmaster,

emailbag, john.devine, wford,

tricon.investor, nationalaccounts,

jdc,

masmith, info,

international,

redpaw, gene, sales,

info, feedback, wilderinfo,

franchising, rputney,  info,

contact, info, info,

rmacauley, boositr, ingrid,

sales,  jim,

Michelle.Stalford,

dennis, gurken, inquiries,

info, support, 

businessloan.stpeter,

barbra, fschnoor, mwittman,

fanningm, ahelion, wjjq,

email,

jharling, Sales, files,

droewe, herbsallin1, john,

fotograf,

info, cerdey,

DWalker, dsmith,

Judy.Stang, i

nfo, suzi, Ken_Rietz,

info,

artsinfo, ccarts, ghill,

mbrownlow,

lhinton, mwalther,

dknol, gcalloway

 

SAMPLE LETTER:

 

Dear Iditarod Supporter:

 

Please stop supporting the barbaric Iditarod dog sled race. Mushers treat

their dogs abominably. In the Iditarod, dogs are forced to run 1,150 miles,

which

is the approximate distance between Miami, Florida and New York City, over a

grueling terrain in 8 to 15 days. USA Today sports columnist Jon Saraceno

called the Iditarod " a travesty of grueling proportions " and " Ihurtadog. " Fox

sportscaster Jim Rome called it " I-killed-a-dog. " Orlando Sentinel sports

columnist George Diaz said the race is " a barbaric ritual " and " an illegal

sweatshop

for dogs. "

 

Please visit the Sled Dog Action Coalition website

http://www.helpsleddogs.org and be sure to read the quotes on

http://www.helpsleddogs.org/remarks.htm .

All the material on the site is true and verifiable.

 

Iditarod dogs are simply not the invincible animals race officials portray.

Here's a short list of what happens to the dogs during the race: death,

paralysis, penile frostbite, bleeding ulcers, broken bones, pneumonia, torn

muscles

and tendons, diarrhea, vomiting, hypothermia, fur loss, broken teeth, viral

diseases, torn footpads, ruptured discs, sprains, anemia and lung damage.

 

How do sick animals run the 1,100 miles across frozen tundra and through icy

waters? Veterinarians give them massive doses of antibiotics to keep them

going. Anemia tires the dogs but mushers force them to run mile after grueling

mile.

 

At least 126 dogs have died in the Iditarod. No one knows how many dogs die

after this tortuous ordeal or during training.

 

On average, 53 percent of the dogs who start the race do not make it across

the finish line. According to a report published in the American Journal of

Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, of those who do cross, 81 percent have

lung damage. A report published in the Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine

said that 61 percent of the dogs who finish the Iditarod have ulcers versus

zero percent pre-race.

 

Tom Classen, retired Air Force colonel and Alaskan resident for over 40

years, tells us that the dogs are beaten into submission:

 

" They've had the hell beaten out of them. " " You don't just whisper into their

ears, 'OK, stand there until I tell you to run like the devil.' They

understand one thing: a beating. These dogs are beaten into submission the same

way

elephants are trained for a circus. The mushers will deny it. And you know what?

They are all lying. " -USA Today, March 3, 2000 in Jon Saraceno's column.

 

Mushers believe in " culling " or killing unwanted dogs, including puppies.

Many dogs who are permanently disabled in the Iditarod, or who are unwanted for

any reason, including those who have outlived their usefulness, are killed with

a shot to the head, dragged or clubbed to death. " Dogs are clubbed with

baseball bats and if they don't pull are dragged to death in harnesses..... "

wrote

Alaskan Mike Cranford in an article for Alaska's Bush Blade Newspaper (March,

2000).

 

Jon Saraceno wrote in his March 3, 2000 column in USA Today, " He [Colonel

Tom Classen] confirmed dog beatings and far worse. Like starving dogs to

maintain their most advantageous racing weight. Skinning them to make mittens.

Or

dragging them to their death. "

 

Please end your organization's association with this horrific race.

 

Sincerely,

 

IDITAROD SPONSORS:

 

Cabelas (sporting goods)

Email: Customer.Service

 

Daimler Chrysler

Email: ir.dcx

 

Coca-Cola

Email: pressinquiries

 

Millennium & Copthorne Hotels

Email: marketing

 

Wells Fargo & Company

Email:investorrelations

 

Kroger Co. (Fred Meyer Stores)

Email: kroger.investors

 

Spenard Builders (Lanoga Corporation)

Email: ssolomon

 

Office Tech (Global Imaging Systems, Inc.)

Email: gisx

 

ChevronTexaco Corportation

Email: pubaffmr

 

Exxon Mobil Corporation

Email: enterprise.comments

 

Anchorage Daily News (Mc Clatchy Company)

Email: chendricks

 

Providence Health System

Email: employment

 

Global Information Technologies

Email: sales

 

Alaska Airlines (Alaska Air Group)

Email: newsroom

 

IDITAROD SUPPORTERS AND PROMOTERS:

 

TIME for Kids

Email: emailbag

 

Nike, Inc.

Email: mark.parker

Email: jill.zanger

 

NAPA Auto Parts (Genuine Parts Company)

Email: jerry_nix

 

The History Channel - USA

Email: dan.davids

 

Porter Novelli

Email: helen.ostrowski

 

Holland America Line (Carnival Corporation)

Email: skruse

Email: abuckelew

 

Scholastic Corporation

Email: investor_relations

 

St. Martin's Press, LLC (Verlagsgruppe Georg von Holtzbrinck)

Email: matthew.baldacci

Email: markus.schunk

 

Susan B. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation

Email: ptosi

 

Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation, Puget Sound Affiliate

Email: gail

 

Boy Scouts of America, National Council

Email:lhopkins

 

Workman Publishing Company

Email: info

 

Girl Scouts of the USA 

Email: media

 

Avid Microchips (Avid Identification Systems, Inc.)

Email: sales

 

Microtel Inns (US Franchise Systems, Inc.)

Email: public.relations

 

STIHL (STIHL Group)

Email: public.relations

Email: stefan.caspari

 

EMC Corporaton

Email: AuditCommitteeChairman

 

Eastern Mountain Sports (EMS)

Email: corporatesales

 

Wellness Community Greater Boston

Email: lkoenigsberg

 

National Association of Collegiate Women Athletes Administration

Email: jalley

 

Prevent Blindness America

Email: dgarrett

 

United States Association of Blind Athletes

Email: rortiz

 

Antigo Middle School

Email: dknol

 

Plainfield Community Consolidated School District

Email: spicchi

 

North High School

Email:tfiedler

Email: wklaus

 

University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire

Email: newsbur

 

Thompson Elementary School

Email: denise.roberts

Email: Linda.Robertson

 

National Center University of Missouri System

Email: beglaum

 

Avon East Elementary School

Email: Szczepanskis

 

Massachusetts School Library Media Association

Email: dsmith

 

MassCUE, Inc.

Email: lekeating

 

Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development (ASCD)

Email: rhanzelka

 

Foundation for Excellence

Email: cerdey

 

Bartholomew County Public Library

Email: library

 

Cesar Chavez Elementary School

Email: School_Board

 

Education World (EDMIN.com)

Email: contact

 

 

Charles C. Cashman Elementary School

Email: suzi

 

Burson-Marsteller

Email: Ken_Rietz

 

Foundation Fighting Blindness

Email: info

 

Copper Country Community Arts Center

Email: ccarts

 

Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs

Email: artsinfo

 

Schneck School

Email: gcalloway

 

MUSHER SPONSORS:

 

Morgan Stanley

Email:  communitymatters

 

Celeste Pizza (Pinnacle Foods Group, Inc.)

Email: Media_Inquiries

 

Second Wind Energy Snack (S & M NuTec, LLC) - (Makes GREENIES)

Email: info

 

Burger King Corporation

Email: rklein

 

International House of Pancakes (IHOP, Corp.)

Email: stacy.roughan

 

Ace Hardware

Email: myace

 

Energizer Batteries (Energizer Holdings, Inc.)

Email: BatteryInfo

 

The Dish Network (EchoStar Communications Corp.)

Email: press

 

Sportsman's Wearhouse

Email: info

 

Jiffy Lube International, Inc. (Shell Oil Company)

Email: mpaine

Email: ir-hague

 

Louisiana-Pacific Corporation

Email: marketing.center

 

CELLULARONE (Dobson Communications Corp.)

Email: tjacobs

 

Stancorp Financial Group, Inc.

Email: info

 

Eukanuba/Iams (Procter & Gamble Company)

Email: Shareholders.IM

 

Blockbuster Video

Email: investor.relations

 

McDonalds Restaurants (McDonald Corporation)

Email: contact.privacy

 

Ford Motor Company

Email: wford

 

General Motors

Email: john.devine

 

Taco Bell/Denali Foods (Franchisor: Yum! Brands, Inc.)

Email: tricon.investor

 

Outdoor Life Network (Comcast Corp.)

Email: amy_phillips

Email: amy_banse

 

UGI Corporation (AmeriGas)

Email: nationalaccounts

 

Alacer Corp.

Email: bhehn

 

Polar Max

Email: trey.harris

 

Quench Gum (Mueller Sports Medicine, Inc.)

Email: sportcare

 

Polaris Industries Inc.

Email: richard.edwards

 

Tollgrade Communications, Inc.

Email: info

 

Eyak Tek (Eyak Technology, LLC)

Email: Sales

 

Big R Stores

Email: bigr

 

Equinox Industries Ltd.

Email: equinox

 

NEOS Overshoe

Email: neos

 

National Pet Products

Email: info

 

Northern Outfitters

Email: mail

 

Eagle Premium Pet Foods/Eagle Pet Products, Inc.

mail: jdc

 

Dogbooties.com (a division of Arrowhead Fabric)

Email: info

 

Grabber Performance Group

Email: international

 

Blackwood Dog Food (The Blackwood Corporation)

Email: info

 

Redpaw Feeds

Email: redpaw

 

Fogtech

Email: gene

 

Edmund Industrial Optics

Email: sales

 

American Dehydrated Foods, Inc.

Email: info

 

Atta Boy (American Nutrition, Inc.)

Email: feedback

 

Wilder Construction Company

Email: wilderinfo

 

Adventure Unlimited Ranches

Email: info

 

Batteries Plus

Email: franchising

 

Grossman Chevrolet

Email: rputney

 

Royal Canin USA, Inc.

Email: info

 

Pro Pac Pet Food (Midwestern Pet Foods, Inc. )

Email: contact

 

Cold Spot Feeds

Email: info

 

Isis for Women

Email: info

 

Sleep Diagnostics of Michigan

Email: rmacauley

 

Auburn University Veterinary Sports Medicine Program

Email: boositr

 

Lowa Outdoor and Ski Boots

Email: ingrid

 

Tomahawk Log & Country Homes

Email: sales

 

Timbernet, Inc.

Email: jim

 

Mountain House Freeze Dried Foods (Oregon Freeze Dry, Inc.)

Email: Michelle.Stalford

 

Compositech

Email: dennis

 

Quick Heat Warmers (Import Merchandisers, Inc.)

Email: gurken

 

Independence Excavating, Inc.

Email: inquiries

 

Deland Middle School

Email: mkrajews

Email: masmith

 

Stormy Kromer Mercantile

Email: info

 

American Longevity

Email: comments

 

First National Bank - Minnesota

Email: businessloan.stpeter

 

Moneydots.com

Email: barbra

 

Rocky Ridge Elementary

Email: fschnoor

 

Graytown Elementary

Email: mwittman

 

Danbury local schools (Ohio)

Email: fanningm

 

East Bradford Elementary

Email: ahelion

 

WJJQ Radio

Email: wjjq

 

Murphy Desmond Law Offices

Email: email

 

Wheelin' Sportsmen Program (National Wildlife Turkey Foundation)

Email: jharling

 

OddsOn Recording

Email: Sales

 

Metal Magic

Email: files

 

Building Industry Association of Clark County

Email: kgroen

 

Nature Cure Bee Caps

Email: herbsallin1

 

Northern Outfitters

Email: DWalker

 

Evaz Group

Email: john

 

Fotograf Ann Sissel Jenssen

Email: fotograf

 

Glen Grove Elementary School

Email:mbrownlow

 

Hoffman School

Email: ghill

 

Westbrook Elementary School

Email: lhinton

 

Amaize (Marsland Laboratories)

Email message box: http://www.amaize.com/dealer_inq.htm

 

Dr. Tim's Pet Food Company

Email message box: http://www.drtims.com/contact.htm