Companion Animals
Ethical Defenses and the Iditarod
Published March 21, 2009 @ 11:12AM PT
As discussion surrounding the Iditarod once again amplifies in intensity, it is important to consider the annual practice by mulling over the defenses offered up in support of it. This seems uncontroversial. However, the antagonism often engendered by the dialogue seems to suggest just how controversial mere conversation can be. My intention here is to circumvent the anger by explicitly focusing on the varied justifications and their validity.
1. Tradition: "Yes, let's destroy our culture in exchange for a few dogs' lives. This race has strong cultural values and trying to be done with it because of a few dogs dying is pitiful."
Intuitively, we know that "tradition" doesn't follow, ethically. Sexism is deeply rooted in traditional mores and cultural values. Spousal rape is a particularly gruesome manifestation of this. Furthermore, normative judgments of the past must have their value tested in light of evolving ethical standards. If a practice or a cultural value offends current sensibilities, it ought to be modified or replaced. The racist cannot justify the oppression of black Americans by an appeal to what his father and father's father once did.
2. Their enjoyment: "If you saw the excitement that these dogs display every time their people take out the running harnesses you'd know better."
It's Not Just Puppies: The Problems with Breeding Cats
Published March 17, 2009 @ 01:31PM PT
From the Daily Mail:
Inbreeding makes pedigree cats diseased and deformed, animal welfare groups warn
Inbred pedigree cats are suffering from life-threatening diseases and deformities, vets and animal welfare experts have warned.
The warning follows months of controversy surrounding the Crufts dog show after a documentary last year exposed the diseases and deformities suffered by many of Britain's 5million pedigree dogs.
An investigation led to the BBC suspending its coverage of the competition for the first time in 40 years.
Animal welfare groups believe that cat lovers are largely unaware of similar problems in feline breeds.
Cats bred with certain physical characteristics, such as flat faces and small legs, are at increased risk of getting cancer, kidney disease or joint problems.
That face up at the top of the post belongs to Keisha, a Himalayan who was rescued from an operation where she was being used as a breeder.
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Sorry that you're not getting much from me today, readers. I'm in the midst of some post-deadlines exhaustion, and trust me--you don't want to read much that I have to write when I'm nodding off as I write it. I'll be back tomorrow.
At Least Two More Dogs Dead in Iditarod
Published March 17, 2009 @ 05:03AM PT
I hope all the adamant Iditarod supporters who've been all over this blog fiercely defending the "sport" in the last week are still around for this:
At least two more dogs are dead. Still feeling good about yourselves and your race? Don't bother responding. I already know the preposterous answers. My guess, given the reported circumstances, is that by the time this is all over this year, there will be more deaths to add to the current three (though whether we'll actually hear about all or any of them is anyone's guess; I don't expect to get any reliable figures on the number injured either).
And from the Anchorage Daily News:
Iditarod officials confirmed the dog deaths and said necropsies were planned to determine how the animals died. Thin-coated huskies have been an issue of concern among Iditarod veterinarians in recent years. Concerns have been growing that such dogs might fall victim to exposure.
Iditarod-supporting veterinarians, please spare me your "concern."
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AP Photo
Nigel, Lost Iditarod Dog, Found Alive; Musher Learns Nothing
Published March 14, 2009 @ 12:42PM PT
Nigel has been found alive. Unfortunately, his "caregiver" has learned nothing from his becoming lost in the wilderness and what very easily could have been his death. I'd hoped this would be some kind of eye-opener for her. No such luck. She is still considering entering the race again. And incredibly, she reports that she feels bad for the dogs that they didn't get to continue to the finish (as if this would have meant anything to them at all).
While heartened by his return, the 58-year-old musher from Thompson, N.D., felt bad for her other 15 dogs.
“All that time and energy and training these dogs have gone through, and they don’t get to go to Nome,” she said, choking up. “Look what they’ve gone through to run that race.”
She could have been talking about herself. She has undergone rigorous training for several years with the Iditarod in mind. She and her dogs moved their training to Alaska in late October.
Wow. Major, major disconnect. Like other mushers, this one recognizes how much the dogs have gone through for and in this damn race, yet she fails to acknowledge that they didn't just "go through" it, but rather that she forced them through it. Continuing with the harrowing race and arriving at the finish line of the Iditarod would have meant nothing to these dogs; it would have meant something to her.
And as for this--"she could have been talking about herself"? She is talking about herself. Again, this isn't about any kind of joy or satisfaction the dogs would have received upon arriving at Nome. It's about the satisfaction she would have received and that other humans receive, at the dogs' expense.
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Photo by Iditarod pilot Phil Morgan
Victor: The First Death of the 2009 Iditarod
Published March 10, 2009 @ 08:29PM PT
It happened earlier today--the first death of the 2009 Iditarod, a death that was absolutely unnecessary and avoidable, as all the Iditarod fatalities and injuries are (and as all the horse racing, dog racing, and other exploiting-animals-for-human-entertainment deaths and injuries are too). Tell me, Iditarod supporters and participants--is the death of a healthy 6-year-old dog worth the thrill you get out of forcing these dogs through this grueling race, out of pushing these dogs beyond their limits in the harshest of conditions, for your amusement?
His name was Victor. And he didn't have to die.
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AP photo: Another two dogs now enduring the Iditarod cruelties, taken just before the start of the race.
Dogs Dragging, Cow Dragged
Published March 09, 2009 @ 12:50PM PT
This year's Iditarod has begun. Doris Lin asks, "If a dog were left outside in freezing cold weather for twelve days, would you consider that to be neglectful? Or if a dog were forced to run 1,100 miles across a frozen tundra in sub-zero temperatures, would that be animal cruelty?" Yes--unless, of course, humans are having fun and making money off the cruelty. What's a little exploitation, cruelty, injury, and death when humans can gain superficial pleasure and amusement and when there's profit involved?
In other news, this Massachusetts (local? family?) farmer is a lovely fellow. When one of "his" cows wandered off his property and onto someone else's, and he went to retrieve her (I'm using "her" here, but I really don't know--the article refers to the cow as "it," of course), he tied her to the back of his truck and drove off, dragging her to her death. I wonder, could he hear her bellowing out in pain and terror from the cab of the truck as she died?
He denies it happened. Outraged witnesses insist it did. (Now someone send any outraged cow-eating witnesses some cattle slaughter videos please.) The misdemeanor animal cruelty charge being sought "carries a potential five-year prison term and $2,500 fine." Yeah, and the already-low maximum terms and fines are so often meted out in these cases. I won't hold my breath. After all, that cow? She was just somebody's property and product, just "food"--indeed "food" people have likely already eaten by now.
Do I seem particularly irritated with my fellow humans today? Well, I suppose I am. It's one of those days.
Missouri, Puppy Mill Capital, Is Home to 3 Busts in 2 Weeks
Published March 02, 2009 @ 08:32AM PT
I live in St. Louis. And you know what, Missouri? I am damn tired of the constant flow of e-mail alerts about the latest puppy mill busts in Missouri. I am tired of the devastating puppy mill images. And I am equally tired of the "largest rescue ever" headlines about diseased, injured, and abused dogs, cats, chickens, horses, goats, and more. I am tired of the state I live in being one of the least animal-friendly states in the nation. What is it going to take to change this? I really don't know.
-Read on after the jump for more, including the details and videos from the three recent MO busts-
