Guest guest Posted August 30, 2007 Report Share Posted August 30, 2007 http://www.scrippsnews.com/node/26099 Tough lives for man's best friend editorials and opinion By JOHN M. CRISP Scripps Howard News Service Monday, August 20, 2007 If you have any doubts about the despicable nature of the allegations against Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick, you can dispel them by Googling a term like " dogfighting " and perusing the pictures and stories that pop up; any reasonably civilized human being will be disgusted. On the other hand, as Paul Campos of Scripps Howard News Service pointed out recently, those of us who are not vegetarians might feel a little uncomfortable with the intensity of the condemnation of Vick. After all, the neatly arrayed, cellophaned slabs of red meat that we find in the supermarkets don't come out of a machine. They're the end product of a process that requires confinement, killing, dismemberment and, often, considerable misery. Of course, this implicit whiff of hypocrisy in no way justifies breeding animals for fighting characteristics and then pitting them against each other for our amusement. But it does highlight some of the unacknowledged self-deception that lies just beneath the surface of our complicated relationship with animals. For example: A few weeks ago I happened to be in Juneau, Alaska, on a trip that included a brief visit to a " Summer Camp " for Alaskan husky sled dogs, the kind that race in the annual 1,150-mile Iditarod. In a remote Alaskan valley, 120 dogs live and train for the winter races by pulling a 700-pound wagon loaded with a couple of mushers and six tourists along a snowless trail. These wiry mutts mount a deafening tumult of barking and baying at the prospect of being put in harness, but they run in complete, serious silence. The promotional literature pictures the experience as partly educative, promising visitors that they will learn " how the health and care of the dogs is the musher's greatest concern. " These " happy huskies " bond with their mushers and love to run. One could imagine that from " puppyhood " they dream of little else but winning the Iditarod. But it takes a naive tourist to accept this Disneyfied version of the world of mushing at face value. The use of animals for our amusement -- horseracing, dog racing, circuses, marine mammal exhibitions -- nearly always has a dark underside from which we generally avert our eyes. For example, these social animals, bred to run, spend nearly all of their time confined to a 5-foot chain to keep them near their small doghouse, food bowl, water dish and, most unnatural for a dog, their own excretions. Some veterinarians contend, quite reasonably, that chaining a dog leads to aggression and stress and, in fact, it appears that sled dogs suffer from a high rate of stomach ulcers brought on, some believe, by their living conditions. To some, 120 small identical doghouses, each with a restless howling dog chained next to it, may look like a " summer camp, " but it's not hard to picture it as a canine concentration camp or a madhouse for dogs. The Iditarod itself is a highly competitive extreme event, 1,150 miles over treacherous terrain, often in sub-zero blizzard conditions, often at night and with very little rest. By the nature of the race, the dogs are driven to their limits, and dog deaths and serious injuries aren't unusual. Stories of dog abuse on the trail are rife on the Internet. I can't vouch for the accuracy of all these stories, but given what we know about the history of relations between humans and animals, they have the ring of truth. And given what we know about intense competitions like the Iditarod, for every dog that runs, dozens -- perhaps hundreds -- don't make the grade. What happens to them? We'd like to think that they wind up as a pampered pet on a lush farm somewhere in Alaska, but opponents of the Iditarod claim that it's hard to find homes for dogs that have spent most of their lives confined to a chain. These dogs, they claim, are " culled. " So, if Michael Vick is guilty of dogfighting, the authorities should hit him hard. But it's worth remembering that his offenses are at the extreme, repugnant end of a scale that includes a variety of inhumane practices. We sanitize these practices by pretending that animals are willing and enthusiastic participants. Generally, they're not. (John M. Crisp teaches in the English Department at Del Mar College in Corpus Christi, Texas. E-mail jcrisp(at)delmar.edu. For more columns, visit scrippsnews.com.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 31, 2007 Report Share Posted August 31, 2007 Hi Fraggle I do agree with the punishment Vick has received - but as has been pointed out on another list I'm on, it seems somewhat inconsistent that other stars of the same sport have been found guilty of spousal abuse, and continue to play without any sanction from the sports' governing bodies! BB Peter - " fraggle " <EBbrewpunx " vegan-network " <vegan-network >; " vegan chat " Thursday, August 30, 2007 7:26 PM Tough lives for man's best friend > http://www.scrippsnews.com/node/26099 > > Tough lives for man's best friend > editorials and opinion > By JOHN M. CRISP > Scripps Howard News Service > Monday, August 20, 2007 > > If you have any doubts about the despicable nature of the allegations against Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick, you can dispel them by Googling a term like " dogfighting " and perusing the pictures and stories that pop up; any reasonably civilized human being will be disgusted. > > On the other hand, as Paul Campos of Scripps Howard News Service pointed out recently, those of us who are not vegetarians might feel a little uncomfortable with the intensity of the condemnation of Vick. After all, the neatly arrayed, cellophaned slabs of red meat that we find in the supermarkets don't come out of a machine. They're the end product of a process that requires confinement, killing, dismemberment and, often, considerable misery. > > Of course, this implicit whiff of hypocrisy in no way justifies breeding animals for fighting characteristics and then pitting them against each other for our amusement. But it does highlight some of the unacknowledged self-deception that lies just beneath the surface of our complicated relationship with animals. > > For example: A few weeks ago I happened to be in Juneau, Alaska, on a trip that included a brief visit to a " Summer Camp " for Alaskan husky sled dogs, the kind that race in the annual 1,150-mile Iditarod. In a remote Alaskan valley, 120 dogs live and train for the winter races by pulling a 700-pound wagon loaded with a couple of mushers and six tourists along a snowless trail. These wiry mutts mount a deafening tumult of barking and baying at the prospect of being put in harness, but they run in complete, serious silence. > > The promotional literature pictures the experience as partly educative, promising visitors that they will learn " how the health and care of the dogs is the musher's greatest concern. " These " happy huskies " bond with their mushers and love to run. One could imagine that from " puppyhood " they dream of little else but winning the Iditarod. > > But it takes a naive tourist to accept this Disneyfied version of the world of mushing at face value. The use of animals for our amusement -- horseracing, dog racing, circuses, marine mammal exhibitions -- nearly always has a dark underside from which we generally avert our eyes. > > For example, these social animals, bred to run, spend nearly all of their time confined to a 5-foot chain to keep them near their small doghouse, food bowl, water dish and, most unnatural for a dog, their own excretions. Some veterinarians contend, quite reasonably, that chaining a dog leads to aggression and stress and, in fact, it appears that sled dogs suffer from a high rate of stomach ulcers brought on, some believe, by their living conditions. To some, 120 small identical doghouses, each with a restless howling dog chained next to it, may look like a " summer camp, " but it's not hard to picture it as a canine concentration camp or a madhouse for dogs. > > The Iditarod itself is a highly competitive extreme event, 1,150 miles over treacherous terrain, often in sub-zero blizzard conditions, often at night and with very little rest. By the nature of the race, the dogs are driven to their limits, and dog deaths and serious injuries aren't unusual. Stories of dog abuse on the trail are rife on the Internet. I can't vouch for the accuracy of all these stories, but given what we know about the history of relations between humans and animals, they have the ring of truth. > > And given what we know about intense competitions like the Iditarod, for every dog that runs, dozens -- perhaps hundreds -- don't make the grade. What happens to them? We'd like to think that they wind up as a pampered pet on a lush farm somewhere in Alaska, but opponents of the Iditarod claim that it's hard to find homes for dogs that have spent most of their lives confined to a chain. These dogs, they claim, are " culled. " > > So, if Michael Vick is guilty of dogfighting, the authorities should hit him hard. But it's worth remembering that his offenses are at the extreme, repugnant end of a scale that includes a variety of inhumane practices. We sanitize these practices by pretending that animals are willing and enthusiastic participants. Generally, they're not. > > (John M. Crisp teaches in the English Department at Del Mar College in Corpus Christi, Texas. E-mail jcrisp(at)delmar.edu. For more columns, visit scrippsnews.com.) > > > > To send an email to - > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 31, 2007 Report Share Posted August 31, 2007 Or maybe they assume that a spouse CAN leave, and courts won't force them to go back again. Here in Ohio, just recently, a judge ordered a severely abused dog be returned to the abuser! The judge's " rationale " was that if he took the dog away permanently, the people could just go get another dog. There were all kinds of protestors outside of the courthouse but it didn't help at all. , " Josephine Kebbell " <jo.heartwork wrote: > > Good point. Often spousal abuse is overlooked by many sports bodies, and > fans alike! > > Jo > > > On 31/08/2007, metalscarab <metalscarab wrote: > > > > Hi Fraggle > > > > I do agree with the punishment Vick has received - but as has been pointed > > out on another list I'm on, it seems somewhat inconsistent that other > > stars > > of the same sport have been found guilty of spousal abuse, and continue to > > play without any sanction from the sports' governing bodies! > > > > BB > > Peter > > > > - > > " fraggle " <EBbrewpunx > > " vegan-network " <vegan-network >; " vegan chat " > > > > Thursday, August 30, 2007 7:26 PM > > Tough lives for man's best friend > > > > > > > http://www.scrippsnews.com/node/26099 > > > > > > Tough lives for man's best friend > > > editorials and opinion > > > By JOHN M. CRISP > > > Scripps Howard News Service > > > Monday, August 20, 2007 > > > > > > If you have any doubts about the despicable nature of the allegations > > against Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick, you can dispel them by > > Googling a term like " dogfighting " and perusing the pictures and stories > > that pop up; any reasonably civilized human being will be disgusted. > > > > > > On the other hand, as Paul Campos of Scripps Howard News Service pointed > > out recently, those of us who are not vegetarians might feel a little > > uncomfortable with the intensity of the condemnation of Vick. After all, > > the > > neatly arrayed, cellophaned slabs of red meat that we find in the > > supermarkets don't come out of a machine. They're the end product of a > > process that requires confinement, killing, dismemberment and, often, > > considerable misery. > > > > > > Of course, this implicit whiff of hypocrisy in no way justifies breeding > > animals for fighting characteristics and then pitting them against each > > other for our amusement. But it does highlight some of the unacknowledged > > self-deception that lies just beneath the surface of our complicated > > relationship with animals. > > > > > > For example: A few weeks ago I happened to be in Juneau, Alaska, on a > > trip > > that included a brief visit to a " Summer Camp " for Alaskan husky sled > > dogs, > > the kind that race in the annual 1,150-mile Iditarod. In a remote Alaskan > > valley, 120 dogs live and train for the winter races by pulling a > > 700-pound > > wagon loaded with a couple of mushers and six tourists along a snowless > > trail. These wiry mutts mount a deafening tumult of barking and baying at > > the prospect of being put in harness, but they run in complete, serious > > silence. > > > > > > The promotional literature pictures the experience as partly educative, > > promising visitors that they will learn " how the health and care of the > > dogs > > is the musher's greatest concern. " These " happy huskies " bond with their > > mushers and love to run. One could imagine that from " puppyhood " they > > dream > > of little else but winning the Iditarod. > > > > > > But it takes a naive tourist to accept this Disneyfied version of the > > world of mushing at face value. The use of animals for our amusement -- > > horseracing, dog racing, circuses, marine mammal exhibitions -- nearly > > always has a dark underside from which we generally avert our eyes. > > > > > > For example, these social animals, bred to run, spend nearly all of > > their > > time confined to a 5-foot chain to keep them near their small doghouse, > > food > > bowl, water dish and, most unnatural for a dog, their own excretions. Some > > veterinarians contend, quite reasonably, that chaining a dog leads to > > aggression and stress and, in fact, it appears that sled dogs suffer from > > a > > high rate of stomach ulcers brought on, some believe, by their living > > conditions. To some, 120 small identical doghouses, each with a restless > > howling dog chained next to it, may look like a " summer camp, " but it's > > not > > hard to picture it as a canine concentration camp or a madhouse for dogs. > > > > > > The Iditarod itself is a highly competitive extreme event, 1,150 miles > > over treacherous terrain, often in sub-zero blizzard conditions, often at > > night and with very little rest. By the nature of the race, the dogs are > > driven to their limits, and dog deaths and serious injuries aren't > > unusual. > > Stories of dog abuse on the trail are rife on the Internet. I can't vouch > > for the accuracy of all these stories, but given what we know about the > > history of relations between humans and animals, they have the ring of > > truth. > > > > > > And given what we know about intense competitions like the Iditarod, for > > every dog that runs, dozens -- perhaps hundreds -- don't make the grade. > > What happens to them? We'd like to think that they wind up as a pampered > > pet > > on a lush farm somewhere in Alaska, but opponents of the Iditarod claim > > that > > it's hard to find homes for dogs that have spent most of their lives > > confined to a chain. These dogs, they claim, are " culled. " > > > > > > So, if Michael Vick is guilty of dogfighting, the authorities should hit > > him hard. But it's worth remembering that his offenses are at the extreme, > > repugnant end of a scale that includes a variety of inhumane practices. We > > sanitize these practices by pretending that animals are willing and > > enthusiastic participants. Generally, they're not. > > > > > > (John M. Crisp teaches in the English Department at Del Mar College in > > Corpus Christi, Texas. E-mail jcrisp(at)delmar.edu. For more columns, > > visit > > scrippsnews.com.) > > > > > > > > > > > > To send an email to - > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 31, 2007 Report Share Posted August 31, 2007 Hi TofuchickSo, if someone can leave, then it's OK to beat them up????Incidentally, the choice many abused people have is by no means as clear cut as you put it!BBPeter On 31/08/2007, tofuchick24 <tofuchick wrote: Or maybe they assume that a spouse CAN leave, and courts won't forcethem to go back again. Here in Ohio, just recently, a judge ordereda severely abused dog be returned to the abuser! Thejudge's " rationale " was that if he took the dog away permanently, the people could just go get another dog. There were all kinds ofprotestors outside of the courthouse but it didn't help at all. , " Josephine Kebbell " <jo.heartwork wrote:>> Good point. Often spousal abuse is overlooked by many sportsbodies, and> fans alike!>> Jo>> > On 31/08/2007, metalscarab <metalscarab wrote:> >> > Hi Fraggle> >> > I do agree with the punishment Vick has received - but as hasbeen pointed> > out on another list I'm on, it seems somewhat inconsistent that other> > stars> > of the same sport have been found guilty of spousal abuse, andcontinue to> > play without any sanction from the sports' governing bodies!> >> > BB > > Peter> >> > -> > " fraggle " <EBbrewpunx> > " vegan-network " < vegan-network >; " vegan chat " > > > > Thursday, August 30, 2007 7:26 PM> > Tough lives for man's best friend > >> >> > > http://www.scrippsnews.com/node/26099> > >> > > Tough lives for man's best friend> > > editorials and opinion > > > By JOHN M. CRISP> > > Scripps Howard News Service> > > Monday, August 20, 2007> > >> > > If you have any doubts about the despicable nature of the allegations> > against Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick, you can dispelthem by> > Googling a term like " dogfighting " and perusing the pictures andstories> > that pop up; any reasonably civilized human being will be disgusted.> > >> > > On the other hand, as Paul Campos of Scripps Howard NewsService pointed> > out recently, those of us who are not vegetarians might feel alittle> > uncomfortable with the intensity of the condemnation of Vick. After all,> > the> > neatly arrayed, cellophaned slabs of red meat that we find in the> > supermarkets don't come out of a machine. They're the end productof a> > process that requires confinement, killing, dismemberment and, often,> > considerable misery.> > >> > > Of course, this implicit whiff of hypocrisy in no way justifiesbreeding> > animals for fighting characteristics and then pitting them against each> > other for our amusement. But it does highlight some of theunacknowledged> > self-deception that lies just beneath the surface of ourcomplicated> > relationship with animals. > > >> > > For example: A few weeks ago I happened to be in Juneau,Alaska, on a> > trip> > that included a brief visit to a " Summer Camp " for Alaskan huskysled > > dogs,> > the kind that race in the annual 1,150-mile Iditarod. In a remoteAlaskan> > valley, 120 dogs live and train for the winter races by pulling a> > 700-pound> > wagon loaded with a couple of mushers and six tourists along a snowless> > trail. These wiry mutts mount a deafening tumult of barking andbaying at> > the prospect of being put in harness, but they run in complete,serious> > silence.> > > > > > The promotional literature pictures the experience as partlyeducative,> > promising visitors that they will learn " how the health and careof the> > dogs> > is the musher's greatest concern. " These " happy huskies " bond with their> > mushers and love to run. One could imagine that from " puppyhood " they> > dream> > of little else but winning the Iditarod.> > >> > > But it takes a naive tourist to accept this Disneyfied version of the> > world of mushing at face value. The use of animals for ouramusement --> > horseracing, dog racing, circuses, marine mammal exhibitions --nearly> > always has a dark underside from which we generally avert our eyes.> > >> > > For example, these social animals, bred to run, spend nearlyall of> > their> > time confined to a 5-foot chain to keep them near their smalldoghouse, > > food> > bowl, water dish and, most unnatural for a dog, their ownexcretions. Some> > veterinarians contend, quite reasonably, that chaining a dogleads to> > aggression and stress and, in fact, it appears that sled dogs suffer from> > a> > high rate of stomach ulcers brought on, some believe, by theirliving> > conditions. To some, 120 small identical doghouses, each with arestless> > howling dog chained next to it, may look like a " summer camp, " but it's> > not> > hard to picture it as a canine concentration camp or a madhousefor dogs.> > >> > > The Iditarod itself is a highly competitive extreme event, 1,150 miles> > over treacherous terrain, often in sub-zero blizzard conditions,often at> > night and with very little rest. By the nature of the race, thedogs are> > driven to their limits, and dog deaths and serious injuries aren't > > unusual.> > Stories of dog abuse on the trail are rife on the Internet. Ican't vouch> > for the accuracy of all these stories, but given what we knowabout the> > history of relations between humans and animals, they have the ring of> > truth.> > >> > > And given what we know about intense competitions like theIditarod, for> > every dog that runs, dozens -- perhaps hundreds -- don't make the grade.> > What happens to them? We'd like to think that they wind up as apampered> > pet> > on a lush farm somewhere in Alaska, but opponents of the Iditarodclaim> > that > > it's hard to find homes for dogs that have spent most of theirlives> > confined to a chain. These dogs, they claim, are " culled. " > > >> > > So, if Michael Vick is guilty of dogfighting, the authorities should hit> > him hard. But it's worth remembering that his offenses are at theextreme,> > repugnant end of a scale that includes a variety of inhumanepractices. We> > sanitize these practices by pretending that animals are willing and> > enthusiastic participants. Generally, they're not.> > >> > > (John M. Crisp teaches in the English Department at Del MarCollege in> > Corpus Christi, Texas. E-mail jcrisp(at)delmar.edu. For more columns,> > visit> > scrippsnews.com.)> > >> > >> > >> > > To send an email to - > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 1, 2007 Report Share Posted September 1, 2007 Actually, I was pointing out that the courts will protect a person quicker than an animal. Animals are usually legal " property " . I definately do NOT excuse an abuser, and while the abused person can come up with a multitude of reasons they " can't " leave, the truth is they usually can. They might lose property, money, and times may be super tough, but they'll be alive and away from the abuse. There are shelters in many places that will help women, although they aren't always the abused one. I think abuse is wrong. Period. To me, it's not about gender or species. The thing is we, as a society, seem to think it's ok to turn a blind eye to suffering and cruelty. I'm curious, just WHERE did I say it was " ok " to be beaten up? I don't know about where you are, but abuse is pretty common around here, and I don't tolerate it. Kids and animals are the ones who don't have a voice, a legal right to say " enough " . We have serious cases of animal abuse around here all the time and the courts do little or nothing about it. Unfortunately, that stands pretty true for kids too. There are women/kid shelters. The thing is the abused must take a stand, then there's help. But that applies to adults. As far as the " choice " not being clear cut, no it's not always. But the choice to live or die is clear. Abusers tend to only get more abusive. I don't know if you meant to come across as hostile, but it feels that way to me. As far as abuse goes, I've lived it, so I really do understand what it's like to be on the receiving end. I also fought for 5 years to try and protect my dad from my mom, and he was too embarrassed to admit the situation. He was stuck in a wheelchair after a stroke, but since he wouldn't speak up, he paid the price. , " Peter Kebbell " <metalscarab wrote: > > Hi Tofuchick > > So, if someone can leave, then it's OK to beat them up???? > > Incidentally, the choice many abused people have is by no means as clear cut > as you put it! > > BB > Peter > > On 31/08/2007, tofuchick24 <tofuchick wrote: > > > > Or maybe they assume that a spouse CAN leave, and courts won't force > > them to go back again. Here in Ohio, just recently, a judge ordered > > a severely abused dog be returned to the abuser! The > > judge's " rationale " was that if he took the dog away permanently, the > > people could just go get another dog. There were all kinds of > > protestors outside of the courthouse but it didn't help at all. > > , " Josephine Kebbell " > > <jo.heartwork@> wrote: > > > > > > Good point. Often spousal abuse is overlooked by many sports > > bodies, and > > > fans alike! > > > > > > Jo > > > > > > > > > On 31/08/2007, metalscarab <metalscarab@> wrote: > > > > > > > > Hi Fraggle > > > > > > > > I do agree with the punishment Vick has received - but as has > > been pointed > > > > out on another list I'm on, it seems somewhat inconsistent that > > other > > > > stars > > > > of the same sport have been found guilty of spousal abuse, and > > continue to > > > > play without any sanction from the sports' governing bodies! > > > > > > > > BB > > > > Peter > > > > > > > > - > > > > " fraggle " <EBbrewpunx@> > > > > " vegan-network " <vegan-network >; " vegan chat " > > > > > > > > Thursday, August 30, 2007 7:26 PM > > > > Tough lives for man's best friend > > > > > > > > > > > > > http://www.scrippsnews.com/node/26099 > > > > > > > > > > Tough lives for man's best friend > > > > > editorials and opinion > > > > > By JOHN M. CRISP > > > > > Scripps Howard News Service > > > > > Monday, August 20, 2007 > > > > > > > > > > If you have any doubts about the despicable nature of the > > allegations > > > > against Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick, you can dispel > > them by > > > > Googling a term like " dogfighting " and perusing the pictures and > > stories > > > > that pop up; any reasonably civilized human being will be > > disgusted. > > > > > > > > > > On the other hand, as Paul Campos of Scripps Howard News > > Service pointed > > > > out recently, those of us who are not vegetarians might feel a > > little > > > > uncomfortable with the intensity of the condemnation of Vick. > > After all, > > > > the > > > > neatly arrayed, cellophaned slabs of red meat that we find in the > > > > supermarkets don't come out of a machine. They're the end product > > of a > > > > process that requires confinement, killing, dismemberment and, > > often, > > > > considerable misery. > > > > > > > > > > Of course, this implicit whiff of hypocrisy in no way justifies > > breeding > > > > animals for fighting characteristics and then pitting them > > against each > > > > other for our amusement. But it does highlight some of the > > unacknowledged > > > > self-deception that lies just beneath the surface of our > > complicated > > > > relationship with animals. > > > > > > > > > > For example: A few weeks ago I happened to be in Juneau, > > Alaska, on a > > > > trip > > > > that included a brief visit to a " Summer Camp " for Alaskan husky > > sled > > > > dogs, > > > > the kind that race in the annual 1,150-mile Iditarod. In a remote > > Alaskan > > > > valley, 120 dogs live and train for the winter races by pulling a > > > > 700-pound > > > > wagon loaded with a couple of mushers and six tourists along a > > snowless > > > > trail. These wiry mutts mount a deafening tumult of barking and > > baying at > > > > the prospect of being put in harness, but they run in complete, > > serious > > > > silence. > > > > > > > > > > The promotional literature pictures the experience as partly > > educative, > > > > promising visitors that they will learn " how the health and care > > of the > > > > dogs > > > > is the musher's greatest concern. " These " happy huskies " bond > > with their > > > > mushers and love to run. One could imagine that from " puppyhood " > > they > > > > dream > > > > of little else but winning the Iditarod. > > > > > > > > > > But it takes a naive tourist to accept this Disneyfied version > > of the > > > > world of mushing at face value. The use of animals for our > > amusement -- > > > > horseracing, dog racing, circuses, marine mammal exhibitions - - > > nearly > > > > always has a dark underside from which we generally avert our > > eyes. > > > > > > > > > > For example, these social animals, bred to run, spend nearly > > all of > > > > their > > > > time confined to a 5-foot chain to keep them near their small > > doghouse, > > > > food > > > > bowl, water dish and, most unnatural for a dog, their own > > excretions. Some > > > > veterinarians contend, quite reasonably, that chaining a dog > > leads to > > > > aggression and stress and, in fact, it appears that sled dogs > > suffer from > > > > a > > > > high rate of stomach ulcers brought on, some believe, by their > > living > > > > conditions. To some, 120 small identical doghouses, each with a > > restless > > > > howling dog chained next to it, may look like a " summer camp, " > > but it's > > > > not > > > > hard to picture it as a canine concentration camp or a madhouse > > for dogs. > > > > > > > > > > The Iditarod itself is a highly competitive extreme event, > > 1,150 miles > > > > over treacherous terrain, often in sub-zero blizzard conditions, > > often at > > > > night and with very little rest. By the nature of the race, the > > dogs are > > > > driven to their limits, and dog deaths and serious injuries aren't > > > > unusual. > > > > Stories of dog abuse on the trail are rife on the Internet. I > > can't vouch > > > > for the accuracy of all these stories, but given what we know > > about the > > > > history of relations between humans and animals, they have the > > ring of > > > > truth. > > > > > > > > > > And given what we know about intense competitions like the > > Iditarod, for > > > > every dog that runs, dozens -- perhaps hundreds -- don't make the > > grade. > > > > What happens to them? We'd like to think that they wind up as a > > pampered > > > > pet > > > > on a lush farm somewhere in Alaska, but opponents of the Iditarod > > claim > > > > that > > > > it's hard to find homes for dogs that have spent most of their > > lives > > > > confined to a chain. These dogs, they claim, are " culled. " > > > > > > > > > > So, if Michael Vick is guilty of dogfighting, the authorities > > should hit > > > > him hard. But it's worth remembering that his offenses are at the > > extreme, > > > > repugnant end of a scale that includes a variety of inhumane > > practices. We > > > > sanitize these practices by pretending that animals are willing > > and > > > > enthusiastic participants. Generally, they're not. > > > > > > > > > > (John M. Crisp teaches in the English Department at Del Mar > > College in > > > > Corpus Christi, Texas. E-mail jcrisp(at)delmar.edu. For more > > columns, > > > > visit > > > > scrippsnews.com.) > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > To send an email to - > > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You are posting as a guest. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.