Spring Break
Iditarod works on image
The Associated Press
Issue date: 3/20/07 Section: News
ANCHORAGE- As the last dog teams trickle across the finish line of the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race, organizers are working to quell the bad publicity generated by the disqualification of a top musher for dog abuse.
Ramy Brooks admitted to spanking each of his 10 dogs with a trail marker after two refused to get up and continue running outside the checkpoint of Golovin on the Bering Sea coast.
The race hit a high note when this year's highly likable champ, Lance Mackey, crossed the finish line, sealing unprecedented back-to-back wins of the 1,100-mile Iditarod and 1,000-mile Yukon Quest International Sled Dog Race.
But Brooks' disqualification is a setback to the Iditarod and to Brooks, who could face tighter scrutiny from sponsors whose financial backing is integral to covering the steep costs of running a top dog kennel.
To make matters worse for Brooks, one of his dogs died between White Mountain and Safety, the last checkpoint before Nome. Iditarod race marshal Mark Nordman said that so far, the necropsy on Kate, a 3-year-old female, indicates that the two incidents were not related. Further tests were being conducted.
On Monday, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, based in Norfolk, Va., asked Alaska State Troopers to conduct a criminal investigation.
"It's pretty appalling and I would hope the citizens of the state of Alaska would demand that an investigation occur," said Lisa Wathne, a Seattle-based spokeswoman for PETA. "If there was a violation of the law, Ramy Brooks should be charged."
Alaska State Troopers said on Monday that they have no plans to investigate or press charges against Brooks.
"We only handle major crimes and this was not considered a major crime," said Megan Peters, spokeswoman for the troopers.
Numerous e-mails have been sent to race headquarters from all over the world voicing a broad spectrum of opinions, from support to condemnation of the race, according to Iditarod spokesman Chas St. George.
Ramy Brooks admitted to spanking each of his 10 dogs with a trail marker after two refused to get up and continue running outside the checkpoint of Golovin on the Bering Sea coast.
The race hit a high note when this year's highly likable champ, Lance Mackey, crossed the finish line, sealing unprecedented back-to-back wins of the 1,100-mile Iditarod and 1,000-mile Yukon Quest International Sled Dog Race.
But Brooks' disqualification is a setback to the Iditarod and to Brooks, who could face tighter scrutiny from sponsors whose financial backing is integral to covering the steep costs of running a top dog kennel.
To make matters worse for Brooks, one of his dogs died between White Mountain and Safety, the last checkpoint before Nome. Iditarod race marshal Mark Nordman said that so far, the necropsy on Kate, a 3-year-old female, indicates that the two incidents were not related. Further tests were being conducted.
On Monday, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, based in Norfolk, Va., asked Alaska State Troopers to conduct a criminal investigation.
"It's pretty appalling and I would hope the citizens of the state of Alaska would demand that an investigation occur," said Lisa Wathne, a Seattle-based spokeswoman for PETA. "If there was a violation of the law, Ramy Brooks should be charged."
Alaska State Troopers said on Monday that they have no plans to investigate or press charges against Brooks.
"We only handle major crimes and this was not considered a major crime," said Megan Peters, spokeswoman for the troopers.
Numerous e-mails have been sent to race headquarters from all over the world voicing a broad spectrum of opinions, from support to condemnation of the race, according to Iditarod spokesman Chas St. George.
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