Why is the iditarod cruel?

Answer 1

it isn't. every check point the dogs are fed a warm meal and checked out by vets.

it could be... i heard that they kill the dogs if they do not meet or exceed standards. I also read theese facts on the web:

Many of the dogs in the Iditarod suffer from stress, pneumonia, gastric

ulcers, or "Sudden Death Syndrome"--literally running to death. About one

third of the animals must be flown out when they become ill, injured, or

exhausted.

Many of the dogs collapse at the finish line and often cannot rise to a

standing position to eat for days. Jon Saraceno, sports columnist for USA

Today, called the race "Ihurtadog" and "an outrage."

The Iditarod is condemned by animal protection groups across the United

States, led by the Humane Society, because dog deaths and injuries are

common in the race.

Thirty-eight states and the District of Columbia have anti-cruelty laws that

would make the Iditarod illegal because of overworking an animal.

The Iditarod Trail Committee wants people to think of the Iditarod as a

commemoration of the 1925 Anchorage to Nome diphtheria serum run.

However, they don't point out that half of the 1925 serum run was done by

train. Dogs ran in relays for the remaining 500 or 600 miles, with few dogs

running more than 100 miles.

The race has led to the proliferation of husky dog kennels in Alaska, many of

which are substandard. None are inspected by the State of Alaska or any

other agency. Because of this, cruelty to animals is ubiquitous in many

husky dog kennels.

ABC and other major American media are in serious danger of being

accused of being complicit, because it all starts with the immense,

much-hyped Iditarod race.