After Killings, Critics Push To Boycott Dog Sled Rides

Iditarod Sled Dogs
Iditarod Sled Dogs

By Sue Mannina For Boston.com

LOS ANGELES — The slaughter of 100 sled dogs in Canada has reenergized efforts by some animal activists to ban or boycott dog sled rides, a popular activity among tourists in many winter vacation spots, from New England to Minnesota to Alaska.

“I don’t think society is willing to accept that animals, particularly dogs, should be killed just because they are surplus or don’t suit the purpose they were born for,’’ said Debra Probert, executive director of the Vancouver Humane Society, which has called for a provincial ban on tour businesses.

The dogs belonged to Howling Dog Tours Whistler Inc., and its parent company Outdoor Adventures Whistler, located in British Columbia. The dogs were killed last April by a company employee. The incident came to light recently when the employee applied for workers’ compensation, saying he suffered posttraumatic stress after shooting the dogs and slitting their throats.

Documents from the workers’ compensation probe said the company acquired the dogs in anticipation of extra business during the Olympic Games in Vancouver, and that the animals were destroyed after bookings fell. But in a letter to the editor published in the Vancouver Sun newspaper, Howling Dog’s owner, Joey Houssian, said “some old and sick dogs needed to be put down’’ and the company thought the worker assigned the task would perform the culling “in a professional and humane manner.’’ The worker has not been named by authorities and no charges have been brought.

Probert and others believe the incident is the tip of an iceberg in the dog sledding industry, but others say it is shocking because it is so rare.

Hundreds of North American businesses offer sled rides as part of winter vacation getaways. But there are no dog sled overseers who inspect, license, or regulate them.

Paul and Sue Schurke have owned Wintergreen Dog Sled Lodge in Ely, Minn., for 30 years. “What happened in B.C. is such a shocking anomaly, I’ve never heard the likes of it. The magnitude of this atrocity is so shocking — all of us, our heads are reeling.’’

Most reputable sled dog businesses belong to an Alaska-based group called Mush for PRIDE, Schurke said.

The organization, whose acronym stands for Providing Responsible Information on Dogs in their Environment, has about 500 members in several countries, including South Africa, Sweden, Canada, and the United States. The Howling Dogs employee who killed the dogs was a member of PRIDE’S board, Karen Ramstead, president of the group, said. He has been removed, she added.

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Ynessandsandra
Ynessandsandra
13 years ago

I don’t think Boycotting dog sled rides is the answer It is taking something away that the dogs love to do. There needs to be more regulations for the dogs. but boycotting it will only result in more dogs being put down…PS dogs rule!!

Ynessandsandra
Ynessandsandra
13 years ago

I don’t think Boycotting dog sled rides is the answer It is taking something away that the dogs love to do. There needs to be more regulations for the dogs. but boycotting it will only result in more dogs being put down…PS dogs rule!!

Laura
Laura
13 years ago

OMG I think I am going to cry my eyes out and throw up at the same time!!! How utterly, disgustingly, EVIL!!! Dogs feel sooo deeply and all they really want to do is please. Why do they not have animal cruelty laws!!

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