Don’t Let the Willow Sled Dogs Die Two Times
Contributed by Barbara Montgomery
This past April, 23 innocent lives were ended cruelly and needlessly. Even in today’s contentious, deeply divided society, we all should be able to come together to recognize and right moral and ethical wrongs like the sled dog tragedy in that Willow-area kennel.
Let’s not allow the initial outrage surrounding the suffering and death of these helpless animals to dissipate and fade further with each subsequent news cycle and possibly culminate with a fine, minimal or no jail time, and carefully worded rebukes for many of those who are accountable.
This was a horrific occurrence, and even more so because it was entirely preventable. I have lain awake nights putting myself in the place of those dogs: imagining what they must have felt, waiting day after day in frigid temperatures for food and water that never came, unable to free themselves.
It was cruelty on an unbelievable level and scale to creatures whose whole lives centered around pleasing the very perpetrators of their prolonged and painful demise.
There is no excuse for what happened. No punishment can bring justice for the victims of incidents like this, nor should it erase them from our collective consciousness. The promise of prolonged investigations doesn’t cut it, any more than the promise to monitor the situation helped those dogs.
We all need to be a force for future prevention: being more vigilant and establishing, implementing, and publicizing processes to ensure quick, effective responses to potential animal neglect/abuse. Sex offenders must register; why not require this of those convicted of animal cruelty, as is done elsewhere, in addition to imposing restrictions on animal ownership and contact? This type of behavioral issue does not go away.
Although viewed by some as “only animals,” dogs and other creatures share many of the traits and abilities that supposedly distinguish human beings. They have the same senses and often the same sensibilities, loyalty, selflessness, bravery, empathy, affection, intuitiveness, sometimes in greater measure than humans.
The serious, professional mushers I’ve met value and respect these dogs as athletes, individuals, and members of their blended human-canine families. They regard their responsibility for their care as an integral part of their lives. It is up to all of us who want to keep this unique partnership of man, dog, and culture alive to lead the way in ensuring its pursuit in a safe and ethical manner, and not to stand aside “civilly” hoping for a “better outcome,” whatever that is and for whom.
Dogsledding is not a casual undertaking. It is a commitment to a way of life. Members of our mushing community have long visited schools and events to help imbue kids with a sense of caring about animals. Perhaps it’s time to step up adult education efforts regarding the realities of living the mushing life beyond the skills of dog-handling and encourage would-be mushers’ awareness of them before setting up a kennel.
As Alaskans, we have the talent, tools, and duty to protect our own, including the animals that are so much of our heritage.
God bless us all here, and those who come home.