The Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race and Animal Cruelty

The Iditarod Trail dog sled race is a sled dog race from Anchorage, Alaska to Nome, Alaska, a route that is over 1,100 miles long. Aside from basic animal rights arguments against using dogs for entertainment or to pull sleds, many people object to the Iditarod because of the animal cruelty and deaths involved. â€Å"[J]agged mountain ranges, frozen river, dense forest, desolate tundra and miles of windswept coast . . . temperatures far below zero, winds that can cause a complete loss of visibility, the hazards of overflow, long hours of darkness and treacherous climbs and side hills.† This is from the official Iditarod website. The death of a dog in the 2013 Iditarod has prompted race organizers to improve protocols for dogs removed from the race. History of the Iditarod The Iditarod Trail is a National Historic Trail and was established as a route for dog sleds to access remote, snowbound areas during the 1909 Alaskan gold rush. In 1967, the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race began as a much shorter sled dog race, over a portion of the Iditarod Trail. In 1973, race organizers turned the Iditarod Race into the grueling 9-12 day race that it is today, ending in Nome, AK. As the official Iditarod website puts it, â€Å"There were many who believed it was crazy to send a bunch of mushers out into the vast uninhabited Alaskan wilderness.† The Iditarod Today The rules for the Iditarod require teams of one musher with 12 to 16 dogs, with at least six dogs crossing the finish line. The musher is the human driver of the sled. Anyone who has been convicted of animal cruelty or animal neglect in Alaska is disqualified from being a musher in the Iditarod. The race requires the teams to take three mandatory breaks. Compared to previous years, the entry fee is up and the purse is down. Every musher who finishes in the top 30 receives a cash prize. Inherent Cruelty in the Race According to the Sled Dog Action Coalition, at least 136 dogs have died in the Iditarod or as a result of running in the Iditarod. The race organizers, the Iditarod Trail Committee (ITC), simultaneously romanticize the unforgiving terrain and weather encountered by the dogs and mushers, while arguing that the race is not cruel to the dogs. Even during their breaks, the dogs are required to remain outdoors except when being examined or treated by a veterinarian. In most U.S. states, keeping a dog outdoors for twelve days in freezing weather would warrant an animal cruelty conviction, but Alaskan animal cruelty statutes exempt standard dog mushing practices: This section does not apply to generally accepted dog mushing or pulling contests or practices or rodeos or stock contests. Instead of being an act of animal cruelty, this exposure is a requirement of the Iditarod. At the same time, Iditarod rules prohibit â€Å"cruel or inhumane treatment of the dogs.† A musher may be disqualified if a dog dies of abusive treatment, but the musher will not be disqualified if â€Å"[T]he cause of death is due to a circumstance, nature of the trail, or force beyond the control of the musher. This recognizes the inherent risks of wilderness travel.† If a person in another state forced their dog to run over 1,100 miles through ice and snow and the dog died, they would probably be convicted of animal cruelty. It is because of the inherent risks of running the dogs across a frozen tundra in sub-zero weather for twelve days that many believe the Iditarod should be stopped. The official Iditarod rules state, â€Å"All dog deaths are regrettable, but there are some that may be considered unpreventable.† Although the ITC may consider some dog deaths unpreventable, a sure way to prevent the deaths is to stop the Iditarod. Inadequate Veterinary Care Although race checkpoints are staffed by veterinarians, mushers sometimes skip checkpoints and there is no requirement for the dogs to be examined. According to the Sled Dog Action Coalition, most of the Iditarod veterinarians belong to the International Sled Dog Veterinary Medical Association, an organization that promotes sled dog races. Instead of being impartial caregivers for the dogs, they have a vested interest, and in some cases, a financial interest, in promoting sled dog racing. Iditarod veterinarians have even allowed sick dogs to continue running and compared dog deaths to the deaths of willing human athletes. However, no human athlete has ever died in the Iditarod. Intentional Abuse and Cruelty Concerns about intentional abuse and cruelty beyond the rigors of the race are also valid. According to an  ESPN article: Two-time runner-up Ramy Brooks was disqualified from the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race for abusing his dogs. The 38-year-old Brooks hit each of his 10 dogs with a trail marking lathe, similar to a surveyors stake, after two refused to get up and continue running on an ice field [...] Jerry Riley, winner of the 1976 Iditarod, was banned for life from the race in 1990 after he dropped a dog in White Mountain without informing veterinarians the animal was injured. Nine years later, he was allowed back in the race. One of Brooks’ dogs later died during the 2007 Iditarod, but the death was believed to be unrelated to the beating. Although Brooks was disqualified for beating his dogs, nothing in the Iditarod rules prohibits mushers from whipping the dogs. This quote from  The Speed Mushing Manual, by Jim Welch, appears on the Sled Dog Action Coalition: A training device such as a whip is not cruel at all but is effective [...] It is a common training device in use among dog mushers [...] A whip is a very humane training tool [...] Never say whoa if you intend to stop to whip a dog [...] So without saying whoa you plant the hook, run up the side Fido is on, grab the back of his harness, pull back enough so that there is slack in the tug line, say Fido, get up immediately rapping his hind end with a whip. As if dog deaths were not enough, the rules allow mushers to kill moose, caribou, buffalo, and other large animals â€Å"in defense of life or property† along the race. If the mushers were not racing in the Iditarod, they wouldn’t encounter wild animals defending their territory. Breeding and Culling Many of the mushers breed their own dogs for use in the Iditarod and other sled dog races. Few dogs can become champions, so it is common practice to  cull  the unprofitable dogs. An email from former musher Ashley Keith to the Sled Dog Action Coalition explains: When I was active in the mushing community, other mushers were open with me about the fact that larger Iditarod kennels frequently disposed of dogs by shooting them, drowning them or setting them loose to fend for themselves in the wilderness. This was especially true in Alaska, they said, where veterinarians were often hours away. They often used the phrase Bullets are cheaper. And they noted that its more practical for mushers in remote parts of Alaska to do it themselves. The Mushers Although the mushers endure some of the same harsh conditions faced by the dogs, the mushers decide voluntarily to run the  race and are fully aware of the risks involved. The dogs do not make such decisions knowingly or voluntarily. The mushers can also voluntarily decide to drop out and walk away when the race is too difficult. In contrast, individual dogs are dropped from the team when they are sick, injured or dead. Furthermore, the mushers are not whipped if they are going too slow. Changes After Dog Death in 2013 In the 2013 Iditarod, a dog named Dorado was removed from the race because he was moving stiffly. Dorados musher, Paige Drobny, continued the race and, following standard protocol, Dorado was left outside in the cold and the snow at a checkpoint. Dorado died of asphyxiation after being buried in snow, although seven other dogs who were also covered in snow survived. As a result of Dorados death, race organizers plan to build dog shelters at two checkpoints and also check on the dropped dogs more frequently. More flights will also be scheduled to transport dropped dogs from checkpoints that are not accessible via roads. What Can I Do? You dont have to be a member of PETA to believe in animal rights. Even with the entry fee, the Iditarod loses money on each musher, so the race relies on money from corporate sponsors. Urge the sponsors to stop supporting animal cruelty, and boycott sponsors of the Iditarod. The Sled Dog Action Coalition has a  list of sponsors  as well as a  sample letter.

Emotional Intelligence And Conflict Management - 758 Words

TAYLOR: EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE AND CONFLICT MANAGEMENT 2 There are countless diverse titles in a business that necessitate different knowledge, talents and competences. Therefore, this is of significance to businesses in ensuring leaders who are capable to motivate, comprehend and get their groups to work collectively. Many businesses should be looking to progress their performance and efficiency through obtaining and employing the right individuals in leadership ranks. Management and supervision titles involve more than just specialized intelligence, skill and proficiency in their specified area, but being supervisors and managers over others as well. However, it is to my understanding that the basis of emotional intelligence in management should be the foundation of leadership. Before assignments, followers, objectives and techniques are able to be described or assessed, the manager’s emotional intelligence should first be evaluated. Moreover, emotional intelligence then turns into the prognosticator of how successfully the manager will be able to manage in any particular situation, set of responsibilities or followers. Matthew 23:11 states, â€Å"The greatest among you shall be your servant† (NKJ). Generally speaking, it is in my opinion that everyone utilizes their emotional intelligence on a day-to-day basis, sometimes with no realization of it. It is to my understanding that emotional intelligence may perhaps entail understanding andShow MoreRelatedConflict Management and Emotional Intelligence63003 Words   |  253 PagesSouthern Cross University ePublications@SCU Theses 2010 Conflict management and emotional intelligence Yu Fai Leung Southern Cross University, keith.leung.yu.fai@gmail.com Suggested Citation Leung, YF 2010, Conflict management and emotional intelligence , DBA thesis, Southern Cross University, Lismore, NSW. Copyright YF Leung 2010 ePublications@SCU is an electronic repository administered by Southern Cross University Library. Its goal is to capture and preserve the intellectual Read MoreThe Relationship Between Emotional Intelligence And Conflict Management Style4185 Words   |  17 PagesTHE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE AND CONFLICT MANAGEMENT STYLE 1. Introduction Conflict is not something new to us. Every single day we might involve in the conflict. Conflict has occurred since the existence of human beings. Conflict occurred either in person or between other individuals. Conflict can happen when we faced negative situation with family, colleagues, supervisor, customers and others. The early approach of conflict assumed all conflict was negative and to beRead MoreEmotional Intelligence, Conflict Management Styles And Organizational Job Performance Of Bank Employees2961 Words   |  12 PagesEmotional Intelligence, Conflict Management Styles and Organizational Job Performance of Bank Employees Dhivya.D* and U.Gowri** Till recently, Intelligence Quotient is considered as a measure of excellence. In the current business world IQ and technical abilities alone not help to succeed in the work. Emotional intelligence also plays an important role in the workplace. Emotional intelligence is the capacity to identify, manage and assess emotions of a person. In this fastest and competitiveRead MoreEmotional Intelligence : An Inborn Characteristic1330 Words   |  6 PagesEmotional Intelligence is the ability to express and control our own emotions and it is important because it provides us with the ability to understand, interpret and to understand the emotions of others (Segal Smith, 2015). The definition of emotional intelligence refers to the ability to perceive, control and evaluate emotions. Emotional intelligence can be learned and strengthened however there are some claims that emotional intelligence is an inborn characteristic (Segal Smith, 2015). AnRead MoreThe Impact Of A Poor Communication Climate On The Workplace Essay951 Words   |  4 Pagesthe communication climate in the workplace. The review will provide a focus for the study and to report the important concepts and data related to the attitudes and behaviors in the workplace. The review will include an overview of the behaviors, conflict resolution, and educating leadership on communication strategies. A variety of resources will be utilized for reviews of literature pertinent to the project and to answer the research question. Textbooks, professional periodicals and journals, onlineRead MoreEmotional Intelligence And Physical Intelligence1655 Words   |  7 PagesEmotional Intelligence 2.0 In today’s society, there is a lot of emphasis placed on getting along with others. When working in a healthcare environment, this is especially important. We must be able to work well with a wide variety of personalities. Whether dealing with a difficult patient, a hostile coworker or handling our own emotions, it is necessary to be able to keep our own thoughts and emotions in check in order to have successful outcomes. I have decided to learn more about EmotionalRead MoreEmotional Intelligence And Interpersonal Intelligence912 Words   |  4 PagesEmotional Intelligence Picture a world where humans could not understand each other’s feelings. It looks pretty bleak, right? Luckily, humans do have the ability to comprehend others’ facial and body expressions, emotions, and language. Since this is such a beneficial and amazing power that we hold, it has been labeled as a sort of intelligence- emotional intelligence. The ability to control and express our emotions, as well as understand, recognize, and response to others’ emotions is essentialRead MoreThe Skills And Knowledge I Learned Through The Course1510 Words   |  7 Pagesin leadership such as management vs leadership, emotional intelligence, team stages of development, situational leadership, servant leadership, and Myers-Brigs Personality assessment tool. Also, while taking this course, I also identified my dependable strengths as well as my areas of weakness. At the beginning, I will talk about my personal definition of leadership. Then, I will summarize my self-evaluation/self-assessment by using MBTI, Big 5, and Emotional Intelligence. I will also talk aboutRead MoreAn Individual s Level Of Emotional Intelligence1524 Words   |  7 PagesAn individual’s level of emotional intelligence can have an impact on their performance as a teacher? There is a great deal of individuals that boast the intellectual intelligence to become teacher’s, but an alarming number of them are failing to sustain the emotional strength required to maintain excellence in their careers. Nobody can deny that teaching is a highly stressful, demanding and challenging profession, but how much of this stress and fatigue can be relieved by teachers managing theirRead MoreEmotions in Negotiations1669 Words   |  7 Pagesalone the emotions of the other person or group. As educated people, we often try to ignore the influence of emotions on decision-making. Neuroscience evidence now shows that sound and rational decision making is contingent on prior accurate emotional processing. The basis for this is the somatic marker hypothesis. The somatic marker hypothesis provides a systems level neuroanatomical and cognitive framework for decision-making, the impact, and influence on it by emotions. The key idea of this

BPHS Essay Example For Students

BPHS Essay Buena Park High SchoolThe Coyotes first became a school on September 11, 1956. This was the third school introduced to Fullerton Union High School District. The first principal was Mr. Richard Spaulding. The population of the high school rose from 508 students to 2,200. The current principal is Mr. Michael Conroy. Buena Park is accredited for the next six-years. This means that graduates went through quality criteria. They are also a Digital High School. This school has a tobacco free campus. They are also a zero tolerance school. 230 credits are required to graduate. Buena Park High School is Californias only magnet school in the area of Aviation Sciences. Their Aviation program is called SOAR, or School of Aviation Research. This program has been implemented for three years now. Cypress College also offers aviation courses at Buena Park High School for students who may receive either high school or college credit. This program is supported by airport administrators. They go on fiel d trips to airports and museums. Steven Segal graduated from Buena Park high school. He is their only famous alumni. The mascot for Buena Park is the coyotes. Their colors are green and white. They have their own football field. The schools address is 8833 Academy Drive, Buena Park, CA 90621. They are in the Freeway League for athletics. This league was formed during the 1958-59 school year. BPHS is the only school to remain in the Freeway League during its entire thirty-seven year history. Today the league includes Buena Park, Fullerton, La Habra, Sonora, Sunny Hills and Troy high schools. There are a few websites for this school but all of them are not working. One is Buenapark.seniorhigh.net. Buena Park has two student publications. These are, The Paw Prints, which is made by the journalism class. There are nine issues of it throughout the duration of the school year. There is also Los Coyotes, the school yearbook. This is made during the spring and is distributed in June. Publications class makes the yearbook. The Coyote Courier is also made for students parents. This is mailed to them. Their Alma Mater is:Hail to our Alma Mater,Ever faithful we will be,Hand in hand we proudly stand, To pledge our loyalty,With noble heart we will do our part,For you we will never fail,Buena Park we proudly sing,Hail, All Hail!Their Fight Song is:Fight on Coyotes, fight, and we will win this fray. Fight on Coyotes, fight, and we will win this game tonight. Hail Green and White, our Alma Mater, on triumphantly. So march right down that field and never yield,Well fight on to victory.