On this day, August 25, 2011, I, Alma Rose, being of sound body and mind release a Dog’s Manifesto. In recent days I have had people yell at me for not being on a leash, people yell at me because I greet them with a howl of a hello and a tail wag. So I have taken it upon myself to speak for my fellow dogs when I discuss what a dog’s rights should be.

First, I would like to make it clear that aside from a few exemptions, you, the humans have chosen us. I really don’t care what your reasons are for choosing to own a dog, but I do want to let you know that as a dog owner you are responsible for you dog’s well being.

Here’s the thing that sucks about being a dog. We will love you no matter what. We will love you if you beat us. We will love you if you yell at us. We will love you if make us sit outside alone all day. We love you, unconditionally.

1.    Dogs are social animals. We have a pack mentality – remember the wolves, the ones that have been shot almost to extinction? We are descendant from them. All of us. Even the Chihuahua. What does that mean to you? It means if you don’t have the time to interact with us, then at least get us a companion – another dog, a cat even, something or someone we can interact with or don’t adopt us.

2.    Dogs cannot go to the bathroom by themselves. We could but we get yelled at. We are dependent on you humans to let us outside so we can relieve ourselves. I heard a story about a dog whose owner beat her so badly she wouldn’t pee or poop for two days when he was away on a trip. How many times do you pee and poop in a day? Odds are we need to go at least as many as that. If you do not have an area like a back yard where you can let us go to relieve ourselves, then you need to walk us – at least three times a day however more is preferable.

3.    We not only like exercise, we need exercise to be happy. Being on a leash is fine in certain circumstances, however we dogs need to be able to walk/run at our own pace. We need to have off leash areas of more than a few hundred feet. We need miles. Playing and catching a ball counts as exercise. Spend some time with us. How would you like to be tied to your parent and have to walk at exactly the same pace they walk every time you leave the house?

4.    Every dog is breed with different traits. Some of us like to herd, some of us like to fetch, some of us like to scent and some of us like to run and chase things. It is your job to understand what we are bred for and your job to allow us to fulfill our potential. You don’t have to get sheep if you have a sheep-herding dog, but you do need to play games with us that allow us to herd.

5.    How you treat us dogs, whether you hit or yell is a reflection on you. Remember the saying ‘do unto others as you would have done unto you?’ This does not mean treat me the way you have been treated. This means treat me the way you would want to be treated if you had had a choice as to how you were treated when you were young.

6.    We cannot feed ourselves. If we could we would eat all sorts of different foods because dogs, like humans like new and exciting flavors. You want to know why we beg? Because you give us a bowl of the exact same food every single day and think we should be happy with that. Would you be happy eating oatmeal for every meal every day? Mix it up. Give us treats and bones and wet food and yogurt. At the very least, put some water in our dry food so it isn’t like eating crackers.
a.    Please don’t forget to feed us. Remember, we are here with unconditional love and we get hungry.

7.    Dogs like to be comfortable. We could sleep on the floor, but so could you. If you don’t want me on the bed or the sofa, buy me my own bed.

8.    Dogs have their own language. We are social. We need to interact with other dogs. Take us to a dog park or a doggie day care. Let us socialize. We understand other dogs and we have a very subtle language. For the most part we can work out our own interactions. You don’t have to control them.

9.    If you have a dog in the city, find a way to play with them without being on a leash. Find some open space for us. How would you like to be confined to an apartment or home for your entire life?

10.    Even if you have a large back yard, remember we are dogs and we like to explore. We like to go out and see new things. Don’t keep me in a house and yard my entire life.

11.    If you visit the mountains with a city dog, be prepared to meet a lot of dogs running free. They aren’t going to attack your dog (for the most part). You don’t need to pick us up, you should try letting us off leash so we can have some fun, too.

12.    Baths are not necessary. I know you like us to smell good, but we would prefer to roll in cow dung or dead fish. It’s our instinct.

Before you go and buy a dog because you think it looks cute or you’re lonely, ask yourself if you can fulfill the needs of a dog on an everyday basis. Too many of us are bought and returned or abandoned and we end up in places that kill us because you choose us and then change your mind. Some dogs are taken to shelters because their people are moving. Would you dump your kid on the side of the road because you’re moving? When you adopt a dog you adopt us for life. If you have to move find a home that allows dogs. We are not just dogs, we are living, breathing, thinking, feeling creatures. We have a lot to offer if you would just let us.

Here are a few more pics from the face – for the full album, visit my Facebook Page – http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2107285&id=1127060346

The Ceremonial Start is a 12 mile run, which used to be the official start to the race however in the 80’s the department of transportation decided it wasn’t safe to run dogs on the same highway as cars.

As Kris reached the starting line, there were cheers for Colorado, which made us all feel good. I spent my time harnessing the dogs and trying to take as many pictures as possible.

Kris ran Hattie in lead as well with Mustang. They did a great job leading. Kris had an Iditarider with him, Thelma who was thrilled to be riding in the basket of a musher. It was a great crowd out there.

The finish line offered a beautiful landscape of the surrounding mountains. Tom Thurston pulled in looking relaxed, as did Kris Hoffman and I think all the mushers are ready to hit the trail and get the Iditarod started. I know the dogs are ready!!!!

Check out photos here

Kris Drawing

Kris drew 8th staring position out of 63 and Tom drew 25th. Good numbers for a good race! They thanked their wives and sponsors. It was great to see all the different mushers. A good percentage were women this year, which is always encouraging!

During the false start down the streets of Anchorage, each musher drives a person who has bid on the ride. Kris’ passenger sat with us and was very excited for her ride. The dogs are all doing well, which is the most important part. Can’t wait to see what the next few days have in store.

Kris & Tom signing autographs

Tom Drawing from the Mukluk

The kennel has new puppies. These little munchkins were born a few weeks ago and are looking fantastic. They are healthy and happy. Their mom is very nurturing and is doing a great job as a first time mommy. The litter consists of one boy and two little girls. In a few more weeks they will exploring their legs.

Kris has reached Alaska and is gearing up for the Iditarod. I’m flying up on Thursday and will be reporting about the Musher’s banquet and the start of the Iditarod so stay tuned.

Debunking Iditarod Myths – Part 2:

There is a lot of literature decrying the Iditarod as an inhumane race that kills dogs. Those who want the race to end are disseminating information that can be misleading at best and inaccurate at worst.

I have worked at a dog sledding operation for the past three years. The company, Grizzle-T Dog & Sled Works is open to the public and conducts tours for guests. We encourage people to come and meet the sled dogs and to see how excited they are to do what they do. This year Kris Hoffman, owner of Grizzle-T will be racing in the Iditarod and I look to him to show the world how a musher who cares for and loves his dogs runs this race.

The following is a continuation of some of the most popular myths surrounding the Iditarod.

Iditarod Myths – Part 2:

1.    Sled dogs live in isolation. At our kennel, sled dogs are able to play with and snuggle the dogs next to them. They are paired with compatible dogs and there is definitely a pack sensibility, which can be heard as one howl becomes an entire chorus of howls.
2.    Dogs are starved to reach race weight. This is counter-productive. A hungry dog will not be able to run as well as a well-fed dog. In fact, in winter the dogs are fed up to 10,000 calories a day when they are racing to ensure they have the nutrients they need. Their diet consists of raw meat as well as kibble for a balanced diet.
3.    Sled dogs are too skinny. We are used to seeing housedogs that don’t get enough exercise. Sled dogs are athletes. They are all muscle. When people meet my sled dog, who is a housedog, they always comment on how skinny she is. She eats as much as she wants every day, but she also gets 2-3 hours of exercise every day and runs off leash. She is fit.
4.    Sled dogs don’t get daily attention. They do. These dogs are fed, given water twice a day and run. They end up getting more attention than a housedog that sits alone for 8-10 hours a day or more while their owners work.
5.    Dogs get lost during the Iditarod. All dogs are chipped so if they slip out of their collar or get lose they can be tracked.
6.    Dogs are forced to run too fast. Race times have diminished from 11 days to 8 days. What people don’t realize is that the time was reduced to just over 9 days in 1999. In the last 11 years race times have only decreased by about 3 hours.
7.    Tying a dog to a line breeds aggression. This may be the case in residential areas because the leashed dog sees free dogs and becomes aggressive in order to get the free animals to move out of their territory. With sled dogs, they are all in same boat; they are all tied up until they get to run. All of our dogs are friendly to people and very loving. As for tying dogs to a line, a leash is a line and studies also prove that dogs on a leash are more aggressive than dogs who are allowed to run free.
8.    Pregnant dogs are forced to run in the Iditarod. This myth comes from reports of dogs who are bred right before the race.  This myth is similar to saying that a woman who is a week pregnant should not undergo any type of strenuous exercise. Most women do not even know they are pregnant for the first month or two of their term. They are perfectly capable of undergoing rigorous exercise until later in their pregnancy.
9.    Puppies are forced to run even though their bodies are still developing. Mushers are racing dogs between 18 months and 2 years old. The most recent studies on dog development believe that the first two years of a dogs’ life are equivalent to 24 human years, meaning these dogs are actually in their athletic prime between 18 months to 2 years old.
10.    Sick dogs are forced to run. Sometimes dogs pick up kennel cough from bedding on the same hay as other dogs in the race. I have a sled dog who was not sick a day in her life for the two years I had her and worked at the dog sledding kennel. However, as soon as she was introduced to a dog park in Santa Fe, she wound up with kennel cough within two months. During the time she had kennel cough, she didn’t slow down at all. She had just as much energy as before the cough and ran just as far and just as fast.

What many people who are anti-Iditarod don’t realize is that most people who work with sled dogs love for and care for their dogs. The people who abuse their dogs end up in the limelight because society is far more interested in gory details than in positive stories. The Iditarod is a race, which when run responsibly, is a way for these animals, the sled dogs to fulfill their athletic abilities and for mushers to bond with their dogs in a way most pet owners can’t comprehend.

Iditarod Myths – Part 1

Not everything you hear about the Iditarod is true. There are many rumors that get fueled that have no basis in fact. Here are the first 10 most popular Iditarod Myths:

1.    Sled dogs are forced to run. Ask any musher, if a dog doesn’t want to run, he/she won’t. They will lie down and there’s no getting them back up. The problem with sled dogs is not getting them to go, it’s getting them to stop. Anytime a sled or set of harnesses is pulled out, the excitement for the dogs is visible.
2.    Dogs should not have to pull a sled weighing 400-450 pounds. That may sound like an extreme amount of weight, but it breaks down to approximately 25 pounds per dog. Considering these are the strongest draft animals in the world, that’s not a lot of weight. During a sled dog tour, a team of 8-10 dogs routinely pulls two people with a combined weight of 300 pounds or more. I personally weigh 105 lbs and have carried a 40-pound pack for 13 days, 10 or more hours a day with one 24-hour rest. I felt great.
3.     All sled dogs are abused. The media highlights abuse and it needs to be brought to light so it can end, however the majority of sled dogs are well loved and cared for. The bond between musher and dog is extremely close and the dogs are often considered family.
4.    The ASPCA claims it is not possible to bond with over 100 dogs. I worked with over 100 dogs for three years and I bonded with each and every dog. I loved all of those dogs and had a unique connection with each dog. It is not only possible to bond with 100 dogs, it’s easy.
5.    Dogs are considered commodities and do not have names. Every dog I worked with has a name and I would be more than happy to introduce you to him or her, by name. I’ve even given most of them nicknames.
6.    Sled dogs are culled. This is a practice that unfortunately still happens with some mushers, but it does not happen with every musher and it does not happen at Grizzle-T.
7.    Dogs should not be forced to pull people for our pleasure. Sled dogs are work dogs. They are draft animals, meaning pulling animals. They love what they do. Without a good amount of exercise, these dogs can be destructive or depressed. It’s kind of like saying horses and camels should not be forced to carry a human.
8.    No dog should be outside in freezing temperatures. These dogs have adapted to harsh winter climates by living in them for hundreds of years. We would not presume a wolf or a moose needs to come inside during the winter. They thrive in temperatures most humans don’t even want to be outside in. They are outdoor animals. Our dogs all have shelters they can go in, but most choose to sleep on the ground with tail tucked over their noses.
9.    Sled dogs do not get proper care. They do and I’ve given it to them. They get their nails clipped. A vet comes out and gives them vaccinations. They get de-wormed. They get brushed. They get fed and they get loved. And they get a lot of exercise. When they are ill, they are taken to the vet.
10.    Sled dogs belong in a home. These are wild animals who need more exercise than most pet owners have time to give. These dogs do not fare well with a 20-minute walk a day. They need to run. They prefer to sleep outside. They are pack animals.

Look for Debunking Iditarod Myths: Part 2 for more information on sled dogs and the Iditarod.

I have to respond to the recent story that was released regarding the musher in Vancouver, Canada. I am not only sickened by what happened in Vancouver, but I am really saddened. This story shows what happens when sled dogs are looked upon as a financial commodity by people more interested in profit than in the lives of dogs. This is not the case for most mushers.

Most mushers love their dogs and regard them as family. When a dog is sick you take the dog into your home and heal it. If a dog has cancer, you take him or her to the vet and have them euthanized. The way we treat our animals is a reflection of who we are.

To me, it is unacceptable the way many animals are treated. This goes for pet owners as well as sled dogs owners. I am fortunate to have worked for a sled dog operation filled with healthy, happy dogs that get to do what they love to do – run.

I was equally dismayed to hear the Vancouver Humane Society call for a ban on dog sledding. I have worked for a dog sled operation for three years in Colorado with very loving owners. To cut off the business of these operations is basically to cut off their income for the year. Without income, how are they supposed to treat, care for and even feed these dogs?

As the ASPCA mentions, these dogs are not adoptable dogs for the most part. They need several hours of exercise every day, which most pet owners don’t have time for. They are also outdoor dogs and are used to living in a pack. The ASPCA denied help to this musher saying the dogs would not fare well in a home. So what then, does the Humane Society propose to do with these sled dogs, that because of their good intentions to stop cruelty, may end up hurting a lot of dogs?

By banning dog sledding, we would be creating the very problem we are trying to avoid, a situation in which hundreds of sled dogs would have to be euthanized because they couldn’t be cared for. Instead of trying to close down dog sledding operations that do have caring owners, I believe in order to create positive change, regular inspections should be done and records of the dogs need to be kept disclosing if dogs are sold, where dogs are sold to or given away to and if dogs have been euthanized and why.

Every day pets are killed and abused and to say that there should be no pet owners because some pet owners are abusive would be to take away the love that many dogs benefit from. Unfortunately the horror stories of dog sled operations get all the publicity while loving owners find themselves fighting for the relationship they have with their dogs and their right to raise and care for their own sled dogs.

In this world, we need to start focusing on what positive actions we can take to help the dogs. Rash decisions by those who do not understand the needs of these dogs can end up costing their lives. So let’s start with better screening and more inspections of dog sled operations. A cap on the amount of dogs allowed would also help protect them.

There are a hundred dogs in Colorado that I miss every single day. Their unconditional love changed my life in more ways than I can count. They let me cry on their shoulder and encouraged me through some very difficult times in my life. Anyone who has experienced what I have would never think of ending sled dog touring operations.

I was recently reading information that said it was cruel for a team of 16 sled dogs to pull a sled carrying 400 to 450 pounds of supplies during the Iditarod. 450 pounds sounds like a lot, but you have to look at the breakdown. If you break down the weight per dog, they are pulling 25 pounds per dog. That’s not a lot.

Where I work, a team of 8 dogs can easily pull 300 pounds of weight, which is the average weight of two people riding a sled for two hours, come back and still be pulling and tugging trying to go further.

Pulling a sled is different than carrying a pack. To put this in perspective, I am 5’5″ and I weigh somewhere between 105 and 108 pounds. I have carried a 40+ pound pack through the Sierras to elevations of 11,000 feet for 13 days, with one 24 hour rest, similar to what sled dogs do. The first day was a little rough, but then my body adjusted as I built muscle. I promise you, these dogs are much stronger than I am and pulling 25 pounds is not a lot for them.

It’s important to remember that these dogs do not go from pulling nothing to pulling 300 pounds or 400 pounds between 16 dogs. They are trained and conditioned. They are trained with a four wheeler in high gear to start with, and in neutral up hills sometimes given gas to help them out if they need it. Just like we would train for a race or a camping trip, these dogs are conditioned.

I am currently in training and am carrying 25 pounds easily for several hours a day. In the mornings I carry 37 pounds for 45 minutes. By the end of training in several months I will be carrying 45 pounds for 6-8 or more hours a day. I hope that puts it into perspective a little bit.

In a section of Sled Dog Action Coaltion’s website there is a quote from a member of the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) that states it is not possible to bond with 100 or 200 dogs. At Grizzle-T Dog & Sled Works there have been, at times, 120 dogs in the kennel. I know every single dog’s name and when I worked there I would pet and bond with every dog every day. To make it even more unbelievable, there were also three cats at the kennel and I also bonded with each cat when they were around.

The ability to bond comes from love and from compassion. Our hearts know no bounds when it comes to love. There is no limit to the amount of people or animals that we can love. That is the beauty of love it is endless. Over the three years that I worked at Grizzle-T Dog & Sled Works, I spent more time with the dogs than I spent with my boyfriend or my friends and I preferred that. Our days were 10 hours long and during times we were short or busy times, I would work seven days a week. I worked with a cracked rib, I worked through colds and the flu, not because I was tough, but because I was happier being out there with the dogs than I was anywhere else.

When I left Grizzle-T this year for a full-time year-round job, I cried on those dogs. I cried in their fur. I was sobbing so badly at one point, I had to walk out of the kennel and get myself back together. The dogs in return covered me with kisses and hugs, and rubs and snuggles.

When I went back three months later the bond I had with those dogs was just as strong as the day I left. It was like no time had passed.

So I would say to those people who don’t believe that you can bond with that many animals – open your heart. You would be amazed how much love you have to offer and how far that love can reach!