ALERT: Humane Society of Central OR promotes cruel Iditarod and musher - WRITE

Did it ever occure to you that Rachael Scdoris is promoting the Humane Society and the good work they do.....not the other way around?

Why is it that anyone who works with Rachael to support their good causes suddenly supports the Iditarod?

Ms. Glickman: Rachael is more than just someone who races in the Iditarod once a year, just like you are more than just someone who sends out email blasts against the Iditarod, aren't you? I wouldn't know unless I met you and talked to you.

If you would actually meet Rachael Scdoris and talk to her, or work as an Iditarod volunteer ONE TIME during the race, people might put some stock in what you say. Until then, your statements just feel like second hand accounts that you use to stir up support for your cause.

Why don't you do something about the 14 dog racing tracks in your home state of Florida where dogs are run, caged, and wagered on every day before they are eventually cast aside? Why don't you actively lobby for legislation to end the Iditarod if that is your goal? If you really want change, change the animal cruelty laws in Alaska.

Why doesn't the leadership of the sled dog action coalition go speak to the director of the Humane Society of Central Oregon and Rachael Scdoris face to face to voice your grievances about an event to benifit shelter animals, instead of asking a bunch of followers to send e-mails protesting the Iditarod?
Shows a lack of commitment to your cause if you ask me.

I am against the Iditarod race because it does seem too hard on the dogs. A thousand miles is just unreal to think of any animal running, but I do agree with the posters above that just doing an e-mail campaign against a single musher that raced in the Iditarod because she is supporting a Humane Society event that benefits animals doesn't make much sense. Why doesn't this group try to change the laws in Alaska to end the Iditarod? We have the right as citizens to work to change laws.....start with a petition and build support on the ground in Alaska. Just trying to accomplish change through emotional arguments and emails from who-knows-where never works. A lot of people keep their dogs on chains too.....are we supposed to let them run loose so they can get hit by a car or run through our neighbors property? Are you against the Humane Society in Oregon? Thats what it sounds like.

While I must agree that the dog deaths in the Iditarod this year were appalling (there should NOT have been that many), I do not agree that mushers are cruel or that running a team in the race is cruel. I have been around sled dogs enough to realize that they are not, and cannot be, forced to run. They run simply because they like running, just as sheep dogs enjoy herding things. Sled dogs are built to run and cover long distances that other dogs could not.

I argued a lot about this a couple of years ago. People who are involved with sled dogs realize that mushers love their dogs and that their dogs run by choice.

This is the same old retoric the sled dog coalition regurgitates over and over from their desk in Florida. This is like a form letter that never changes!
Why is it that any sled racer that tries to use their recognition to do something positive for society suddenly vilifies the organization trying to do good?
Don't you think it's time to stop quoting news articles from 2001 and other second hand accounts and get some new material?
How many events does the SDAC show up at to benefit animals, or anybody else?
I live in Oregon, and I've seen articles about Rachael Scdoris showing up at events to support:
1) Animal shelters and adoptions.
2) Independent living resources for disabled people.
3) The United States Association for Blind Athletes.
4) Goodwill Industries.
5) Cirriculum opportunities and assemblies in schools.
6) Women's leadership conferences.
Just to mention a few!
What has the SDAC done except send out email blasts and spew negativity thinking that will help sledding dogs?
Your tactics blow.....and you're in Florida besides.....have many sledding experiences there?

Good points, High Water Pants. Exactly what I have been thinking for years. How is emailing complaints to sponsors really going to help? On the Sled Dog Action Coalition, they list "sucesses" which are sponsors that have withdrawn their support. But what effect has this had, really? The Iditarod continues with dozens of other sponsors. Since the SDAC was formed, how have they really helped dogs? I challenge you name any specific sled dogs they have helped or saved! Since the SDAC was formed, the death rate in the Iditarod has actually gone UP. We should be focusing on real ways to prevent dog deaths rather than whining to sponsors.

On the other hand, I could name dozens of specific sled dogs that MUSHERS have helped or saved. So, if I were a humane society, I'd want to associate with a group of people who do real things and see real results, rather than a group of people who live inside a cyber world and send emails.

This is like asking someone from the Klan to speak at the NAACP national convention. The Iditarod is barbaric.

Stephanie:
Have you ever been to the Iditarod?
Have you ever met or talked to Rachael Scdoris?
Have you ever interacted with Rachaels dogs?
Have you ever seen Rachael interact with her dogs?
Have you ever listened to Rachael talk to kids in schools about her dogs?

To liken Rachael Scdoris to the KKK just demonstrats your ignorence about her and the facts.
As usual, when people lack knowledge of the facts, they rely on spectacular attention grabbing statements and emotion to make their arguments. You're all so predictable that way.
I don't see any pictures of Rachaels dogs on your website...is that because the fact is she respects and loves her dogs?
How many people do you know that have full time healthcare and a nutritionist on call?......Rachaels dogs do.

Go vent your anger at someone who deserves it like Michael Vick....a person who physically tortured animals with the intent to harm or kill. You probably agree with me that there is no place in society for anyone who intentionally harms an animal for their personal gratification........but that's NOT Rachael Scdoris or the HSCO.
What do you say about all the good people out there that love and care for their animals and family pets, but eat hamburgers, fried chicken, and pork chops? Are we all hypocrytes? Is that like asking a fox to watch over the chicken coop?

The Humane Society of Central Oregon does good work, and Rachael is trying to help them do more of that good work. Why would a person like you who profuses to care about animal rights want to shut down a service to animals that is already in too short a supply? Doesn't make sense.......