Endurance.Net Ridecamp Archives

In Keeping with my idea of finding out what other organizations
are doing to solve problems similar to those we have within the
AERC, here is the rule covering canine deaths during the Iditarod:

Rule 18-- Expired Dogs: Any dog that expires on the trail must be taken by 
the musher to a checkpoint. The musher may transport the dog to either the 
checkpoint just passed, or the upcoming checkpoint. An expired dog report 
must be completed by the musher and presented to a race official along with 
the dog. The chief veterinarian will cause a necropsy to be carried out by a 
Board Certified Pathologist at the earliest opportunity and shall make every 
attempt to determine the cause of death. If a board certified pathologist is 
not available to perform the necropsy within the time frame to preserve the 
tissues appropriately, (as determined by the race marshal), the gross 
necropsy and tissue collection will be performed by a trail veterinarian 
following the guidelines in the Musher and Veterinary Handbook. These tissues 
will then be examined by a board-certified pathologist.

This is right off of their website:  <A 
HREF="http://www.iditarod.com/2003_rules.html";>
http://www.iditarod.com/2003_rules.html</A>
I know the rules within the Mushers and Veterinary Handbook are detailed,
although I could not quickly find them on the site.

I know from following Iditarod races for several years that any dog death
is invistigated immediately, any indication of musher abuse is taken seriously
and has resulted in immediate DQ and banishment from participation, AND 
that a press release is issued ASAP as well.

Sweeping dog athlete deaths under the rug was not a good way for this 
organization to deal with the issue.  Instead, hitting the death issue head 
on and dealing with it at the time and immediately has worked much better,
and has provided much needed insight into keeping the dogs happy and
healthy over the long haul.  By the way, the Iditarod also has a P.R.I.D.E.
project.  

The racing is running right now and can be found at <A 
HREF="http://www.iditarod.com";>http://www.iditarod.com</A>

Kathy Myers
in Santa Fe, NM
ps... it costs $1850 just to enter the Iditarod.  This does not include the
costs of providing a minimum of 60 pounds of food and supplies at each
and every checkpoint on the trail.  Yet, less than 400 miles into the 1049
mile race, Peter Bartlett has scratched because his dogs were not eating.
And Lance Barve scratched very early because he didn't feel his dogs were
really ready and wants to avoid injuries.  Kudos to these mushers!

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