By Joanna Zelman For The Huffington Post
The heinous slaughter of 100 dogs in British Columbia has revealed a “dirty secret” of the dog sled industry, according to CKNW.
Following the 2010 Olympic Games, there was a slump in business at Outdoor Adventures Whistler. CBC News reports that an employee was ordered to kill 100 dogs from a pack of 300. The dogs were repeatedly shot and had their throats slashed before being dumped into a mass grave.
The employee describes one dog whose “eye was hanging off, and it was still running around.” Another dog was dumped into the grave while still alive, and the Outdoor Adventures Whistler employee watched as the dog tried to climb out. The employee has been reportedly compensated for experiencing post-traumatic stress disorder after conducting the killings.
It is unclear if the company will actually face criminal charges. According to Marcie Moriarty, general manager for cruelty investigations with the BC SPCA, it is actually legal to shoot an animal if it dies instantly. But the report seems to demonstrate that these dogs did not instantly die, and thus SPCA plans to now dig up the mass grave to determine if there is substantial evidence for a criminal investigation.
These 100 dogs were used for human entertainment, and were then murdered when humans were no longer entertained by them. While this story is horrific, similar events happen regularly – many race horses are slaughtered once past their prime, and up to 4 million pets are killed in shelters each year, often due to bored or unprepared owners abandoning them.
WTF??
I am so upset about this cruel and inhumane treatment! Of course there should be SERIOUS criminal sanctions……put the bastard in jail and fine him heavily!!!!!!!!! These dogs could have been adopted out, or given away to caring homes……….I hate to hear this!!!!!! I love the Husky/Malamute breed and have a few of my own…..can not imagine someone doing this to this beautiful dog. He should be prevented from running his business, and the remainder of his dogs should be given to loving homes!!!!!!!
What the hell is the matter with people,I would never harm my husky. The are beautiful dogs any animal cruelty is totally wrong hope he burns in hell!!!!!
So disgusting, why weren’t they offered as pets first? I bet if people knew what was going to happen that they would have found homes. Not that this is any worse than what pet shelters do already, people are so evil it breaks my heart! Please adopt!
Why wouldn’t they have put these dogs up for adoption?
its just sickning how some people are too lazy to put them up for adoption or just give them away, but instead kill them inhumanely.
Corporations should have nothing to do with animals. Some “bean counter” said cut expenses and that how they did it!! I sure hope there is some form of prosecution coming or we will see more of this, unfortunately.
i think that we should kill the humans that are responsible for this live on t.v
How and why is it legal to kill an animal if it dies instantly in the first place!? How can you say that something as uncertain as that is legal?
These are beautiful animals…… if they only advertised them “FREE” on FAcebook or Twitter or Yahoo…. thousands of people would have responsed to adopt these 100 dogs. There are not even enough of these dogs to satisfy the adoption demands for these beautiful sled dogs……..I hope the people responsible for these senseless killings are criminally charged for their crimes against animals……..
These are beautiful animals…… if they only advertised them “FREE” on FAcebook or Twitter or Yahoo…. thousands of people would have responsed to adopt these 100 dogs. There are not even enough of these dogs to satisfy the adoption demands for these beautiful sled dogs……..I hope the people responsible for these senseless killings are criminally charged for their crimes against animals……..
I hope the people who kill them get their “just desserts” It would serve them bloody right!!!
Poor beautiful creatures…I’d gladly home one if I could and I’m sure millions of other people would too!
Tell me why someone with millions like Richard Branson can’t open a dogs home? I know its not his problem but…..who knows, jobs created for people, families being fed……
This is disgusting, but I’m not surprised….yet another senseless slaughter of animals. Let’s not forget that it’s “legal” to slaughter baby seals in B.C. again this March. Boycott all Canadian products including seafood from there and the companies who buy it from them.
“The employee has been reportedly compensated for experiencing post-traumatic stress disorder after conducting the killings.”
Why didn’t he just say no??????
I totally agree, sadly not everyone is as sensitive to issues such as this like you or I, someone capable of doing such a brutal thing must show be in-sensitised to such things from their work history or something similar, maybe afraid to lose their job and not had the courage or sense to stand up for something that is clearly very wrong. Chances are they have jumped on the compensation bandwagon to distance themselves from the outrage in the media. certain cruel and twisted individuals used to (and probably still do) drown kittens for similar misguided reasons and thought nothing of it.
Can someone tell me why Yahoo will not post my ups, downs, or comments? Only the ones glorifying this atrocity?
maybe because it gets more clicks…
Frightening to think this is just the tip of the iceberg, legally Dogs are property, we’re their owners in law not their guardians as we should be.
This is making me feel sick to my stomach. How could anyone think of anything HORRIBLE like this??? If this happened to humans, this story would be a bigger deal for everyone. PEOPLE CAN’T JUST KILL THINGS JUST BECAUSE IT DOES NOT BENEFIT OR PROFIT US. ANIMALS HAVE THE RIGHT TO BE ON THIS PLANET ALSO!!!
I am horrified by this. Dogs are a very intelligent species and I read that some of the dogs who were watching the massacre tried to attack the shooter only to have their throats cut. I hope that the legal ramifications are swift and severe!
OMGSH…WHAT IS WRONG WITH THIS WORLD WHEN SOMETHING THIS HORRIBLE CAN BE PERPETRATED AGAINST THESE BEAUTIFUL ANIMALS?? PEOPLE WOULD HAVE TAKEN THESE DOGS AND GIVEN THEM LOVING HOMES!! THIS SOUNDS LIKE HITLER AND MICHAEL VICK!! EXTERMINATION!! I HATE TO THINK THAT THERE ARE PEOPLE THAT THINK AND ACT THIS WAY THAT BREATHE THE SAME AIR AS DECENT PEOPLE!! ENOUGH IS ENOUGH PEOPLE!!!! SOMEONE WHO KNOWS WHAT WE CAN DO TO STOP THIS…PLEASE HELP US IN PUTTING A STOP TO THESE CRIMES AGAINST INNOCENT ANIMALS!!!!
your rite cjustpeachie, it seems that the big celeberties and big corporations the get away with anything look at vick back to playing football and even has an endorsement what was a few months in jail for him do, no these people killing these beautiful dogs, ain’t nothing going to happen to them you watch and see they’ll come up with something off the wall
I am extremely disgusted by this. In what world is this ok??
This is a complete outrage! I live in BC and never heard about this. People are right – these dogs could have been put up for adoption and found loving homes. But what makes me even angrier is the fact that BC’s Premier went against public demand and took on the Olympics putting the province in debt for decades. And then, introduced the HST which dug a huge hole for the tourism industry that was already damaged by the low American dollar and by we Canadians and Americans now having to purchase passports to visit one another, deciding that our entire history of being peaceful neighbours was in jeopardy for no reason.
So who pays for this? People like the small business owners of shops and B&B’s and craftspeople, and these beautiful animals who did not sign up to be entertainment. Humans did that. Humans who own animals are supposed to care for them forever, not till they outlive their use.
The only thing I know is that the Premier won’t pay. He already resigned as his party knew he would never get in again and think they can fool people into voting for them again with a new face with the same self serving interests and lack of concern for their constituents or this beautiful province whose wildlife and forests and oceans are in jeopardy.
I am horrified!!
I can not even imagine why anyone would even think about doing this to to a dog, or any animal at that. To cruelly strip the life from an animal, no matter what the reasoning may be, is an unforgivable act, there is no excuse that could possibly make sense of such horrible behavior.
The sick SOB’s that ordered the dogs killed should be strung up by the nuts and have their throats slit or better yet use them as a shooting target. These dogs could of been adopted out I know I help transport dogs all over the states. I am so disgusted by this. May the dogs be at peace now. Hopefully the rest of them will be taken away and the business shut down!!!!!!!!
This is disgusting!!!!!!!!! How can anyone do this to such beautiful and loyal animals just because there is no tourists? Im absolutly horrified at this storey, i know first hand about sled dogs/huskeys because we as a family have one at home as a family pet and he is awesome, brilliant with our 11year old and so much better with our 10month old, Hes a little sod at times but i wouldnt change him for the world!
“Culling is a common practice among mushers. The Iditarod mushers breed many dogs, hoping to get a few who will be fast enough to race. Most of the mushers cull by shooting their dogs in the head …cull any dog who is not wanted for any reason.” ~ From the Sled Dog Action Coalition
The horrible Iditarod sled dog race in March routinely kills young, healthy dogs and it has to stop. Six dogs died in 2009, bringing the total known to 142. The 1100-mile distance is too long and the conditions and terrain too grueling for the dogs. They run over mountain ranges, ice, snow, rivers and creeks in harsh conditions. These dogs are among the best-conditioned dogs in the world due to their training year-round, yet less than half of the dogs make it to the finish line. They suffer injuries, illnesses, and death. There are laws in at least 38 states against “over-driving” and “over-working” animals, which is exactly what the Iditarod does.
When they are not racing or training the dogs are kept tethered,–every dog short-chained to its own small dog house. This is considered inhumane and is illegal in many communities.
Get involved to stop the Iditarod,–write the sponsors at HelpSledDogs.org.
I can’t believe what people do. This was a sick thing to do with any animal. These are beautiful dogs and I am sure people would of adopted them. We live in a sick society. How can a person kill like that. Don’t they any conscious.
How Horrible!! What kind of human can do this to a beautiful animal.
Heart breaking story. I just can’t believe how cruel that is, who could ever do such a thing?? So many other things they could done but they chose the worst possible way…
Even though I cant say I have a husky and I wouldn’t do this, I can definately say, that I have other dogs, such as my Chocolate lab, and husky / border collie mix, and my two smaller dogs, that looking into their eyes, I could never imagine in my lifetime, looking at them with half their face blown off. With blood staining their furr, or their cries =[. It would destroy me completly. People, who can just say do this, are heartless, uncaring, pricks! Anyone willing to kill, or force someone else to kill another animal or being for no real intentions, should in my opinion die. I really, am just so hurt myself over this, I cannot express how angry this makes me, how furious I am, and how much it hurts me that I feel I am to late to have possibly been able to do something to help. This should not be the fate of any animal, especially for buisness purposes. Everything deservers its own life, its freedom, and its world. They are a part of this world, this is their own word to. Let them ejoy it. Tomorow Im gunna buy roses to remember them, and lay them down on my yard with the top picture of the article, Show people I actually care, and so many more out there, that they too are heartless beings. and Hopefully make people realize, that what happend was wrong.
I really think these guys should be locked up and put away for good. This is ridiculous, you don’t put something to death because tourism is slow, we are all feeling the results of this difficult economy and we all have to adjust, you just don’t exterminate woman’s best friend because it’s an inconvenience or for any reason. I am angry about this, these dogs were beautiful and there is no reason for this to happen, none what so ever. I think these guys should be jailed for life!
I can’t believe this! How can this happen? Some humans don’t deserve to be on this planet with these beautiful dogs!!!
… Mans best friend………………. an we do this?????? Friend or Fiend