The government formed a Professional Mushers Association of BC and now released a useless code of conduct that will be hard to enforce. And the code still permits chaining dogs on five-foot chains that cause physical and psychological abuses. It even gives instructions as to how to use gunshot for killing dogs in spite of the “Whistler 100 Sled Dogs” shootings, resulting in barbaric, long-term suffering.
It is shameful of the provincial government to use taxpayers’ money to perpetuate an inherently cruel and barbaric sled dog industry. It was evident from the beginning of the review of one mass sled dog slaughter that the task-force goal was to defend a horrid business in B.C. tourism.
Terry Lake, who sat on the task force, would not even allow a moment of silence for the slaughtered Whistler dogs. Why? It was they who suffered for this abusive industry to be exposed.
This industry cannot be trusted to police itself. Now the (B.C.) Liberals will be part of the crimes, not the solution to stop the cruelties.
Lifeforce, a Vancouver-based ecology and animal rights organization, was invited to participate in the B.C. sled dog industry task force review. Lifeforce submitted our draft report entitled The Case Against Sled Dog Industries. It recommends a total ban of sled dog tourism and racing.
Peter Hamilton
Vancouver, B.C.