From The Sled Dog Action Coalition,
www.helpsleddogs.org
Brutal dog-torture continues at the hands of hardhearted Iditarod mushers. Please help the dogs who are forced to run in the Iditarod dog sled race by sending protest emails to race sponsors and promoters. The Iditarod has a long documented history of dog deaths, illnesses and injuries. On average, 54% of the dogs who start the race do not even make it across the finish line. Of those that do, 81% have lung damage.
Many dogs who are permanently injured in the Iditarod or who are unwanted for any other reason are shot in the head, dragged or clubbed to death. "On-going cruelty is the law of many dog lots. Dogs are clubbed with baseball bats and if they don't pull are dragged to death in harnesses....." wrote Alaskan Mike Cranford in an article for Alaska's Bush Blade Newspaper.
Below is a list of organizations that are 2004 Iditarod race sponsors, musher
sponsors or Iditarod promoters. Emails are first given in block form and then
individually under the sample letter. Please blind copy the email addresses
(email addresses with semi-colons in block form can be found on
www.helpsleddogs.org/sponsors.htm on the bottom of the page):
DaimlerChrysler_Customer_Assistance_Center (at) daimlerchrysler.com,
ir.dcx (at) daimlerchrysler.com,
pressinquiries (at) na.ko.com,
heyer (at) na.ko.com,
NewsOutback (at) OUTBACK.com,
marketing (at) mill-cop.com,
investorrelations (at) wellsfargo.com,
investors (at) kroger.com,
media (at) carnival.com,
rames (at) carnival.com,
pubaffmr (at) chevrontexaco.com,
enterprise.comments (at) exxonmobil.com,
mike.gannon (at) coors.com,
leo.kiely (at) coors.com,
obrown (at) b-f.com,
ptalamantes (at) mcclatchy.com,
chendricks (at) mcclatchy.com,
mbutler (at) providence.org,
SFVSA (at) providence.org,
Customer.Service (at) cabelas.com,
info (at) comtec.com,
sales (at) AvidID.com,
sales (at) gitsat.com,
mstewart (at) marthastewart.com,
investor_relations (at) scholastic.com,
info (at) baincap.com,
dawn.mccall (at) discovery.com,
pandit.wright (at) discovery.com,
teachersource (at) pbs.org,
viewer (at) pbs.org,
Customer.Service (at) EF.com,
newsmedia (at) elderhostel.org,
registration (at) elderhostel.org,
editors (at) fodors.com,
polson (at) randomhouse.com,
gunter.thielen (at) bertelsmann.de,
ecousens (at) wiley.com,
wpesce (at) wiley.com,
tony.wheeler (at) lonelyplanet.com.au,
talk2us (at) lonelyplanet.com.au,
atpfeedback (at) avalonpub.com,
hunterp (at) bellsouth.net,
dm (at) douglas-mcintyre.com,
jsisk (at) rowmanlittlefield.com,
msft (at) microsoft.com,
rrt (at) wagged.com,
agilmour (at) ford.com,
john.devine (at) gm.com,
tricon.investor (at) tricon-yum.com,
IRglobal (at) goldprospectors.org,
mail (at) northernoutfitters.com,
discoverywww (at) iquest.net,
joyce (at) udelhoveninternational.com,
annie (at) phcp.com,
myer (at) phcp.com,
asc_mkt (at) americanseafoods.com,
bonnie_ingraham (at) mcs.k12.in.us,
info (at) annamaet.com,
jdc (at) eaglepack.com,
info (at) breg.com,
rambler (at) cariboucreekgold.com,
info (at) dogbooties.com,
info (at) coldspotfeeds.com,
international (at) grabberwarmers.com,
info (at) blackwoodpetfood.com,
info (at) batteries.com,
redpaw (at) cheqnet.net,
JBbradley (at) benton.k12.wi.us,
neisgar2 (at) benton.k12.wi.us,
pointmanl (at) tds.net,
manager (at) lowes.com,
rlhaynes (at) adelphia.net,
teast (at) zcs.k12.in.us,
microair (at) microair.com,
ktreinen (at) hse.k12.in.us,
stvhr (at) stvincent.org,
phillip.bayt (at) icemiller.com,
phillip.genetos (at) icemiller.com,
art.kalleres (at) icemiller.com,
Sheila.David (at) monroe.k12.wi.us,
pxjones (at) comcast.net,
gear (at) downwindsports.com,
info (at) isisforwomen.com,
AskMMs (at) MMMars.com,
MMsWorld (at) mms.com,
ethel.us (at) effem.com,
info (at) ncshc.com,
bhorsey (at) aol.com,
yukonwind (at) earthlink.net,
lodgepol (at) mc.net,
cfuelling (at) zcs.k12.in.us,
gene (at) menzies.com,
gene (at) motosolutions.com,
jrautenberg (at) stvincent.org,
cconner (at) nwshelby.k12.in.us,
pam.sees (at) nacs.k12.in.us,
pbschool (at) psci.net,
sweber (at) surf-ici.com,
crestview (at) msdlt.k12.in.us,
sgraves (at) mcsc.k12.in.us,
robert_lumpkins (at) cargill.com,
districtadministration (at) lionsclubs.org,
dccl (at) dccl.org,
fenleyann (at) mhasd.k12.wi.us,
springdl (at) chorus.net,
geraldb (at) argyle.k12.wi.us,
KellyB (at) argyle.k12.wi.us,
bschmidt (at) d158.k12.il.us,
info (at) huskyrescue.org,
vicepresident (at) bayareasiberian.org,
treasurer (at) bayareasiberian.org,
zvezda (at) ispwest.com,
leb7282 (at) attbi.com,
pikelegal (at) aol.com,
prairiedogsupply (at) mts.net,
sales (at) edmundoptics.com,
sales (at) yummychummies.com,
contactus (at) melanzana.com,
smokey (at) melanzana.com,
richard.edwards (at) polarisind.com,
inv-rel (at) gargoylesinc.com,
office (at) gfwco.com,
business (at) affinity-petcare.com,
genevieve.dion (at) recreation.bombardier.com,
petfood (at) telusplanet.net,
info (at) adfinc.com,
info (at) nationaldogfood.com,
michael.moe (at) thinkequity.com,
dquazzo (at) thinkequity.com,
chayssen (at) thinkequity.com,
bkirkpatrick (at) stanthony.k12.mn.us,
windigo (at) cheqnet.net,
marie-pierre.grenier (at) recreation.bombardier.com,
steve.cowing (at) recreation.bombardier.com,
patty_vanderlin (at) cargill.com,
marcr.lacroix (at) recreation.bombardier.com,
site.operator (at) mars.com,
sheila.schaeffer (at) nacs.k12.in.us,
msnhst (at) MICROSOFT.COM,
eduardos (at) intelligent-content.com,
scottz (at) intelligent-content.com,
strategicaccounts (at) amerigas.com,
pet.care (at) effem.com,
microsoftcom_contactus (at) css.one.microsoft.com,
info (at) napapijriusa.com,
ir (at) gmodelo.com.mx,
procermexlt (at) corona-extra.com,
kesewell (at) rochester.k12.mn.us,
info (at) stylgrand.com,
info (at) kefas.it,
presidente.giunta (at) regione.fvg.it,
ra (at) cmp.it,
jkern (at) esc11.net,
lhbroadus (at) esc11.net,
sales (at) eniva.com,
bruce.riggins (at) meristar.com,
melissa.thompson (at) meristar.com,
pf (at) pheasantsforever.org,
ryoung (at) pheasantsforever.org,
distributorservices (at) eniva.com,
newsroom (at) alaskaair.com,
ir (at) alaskaair.com,
emailbag (at) timeforkids.com,
amy_dunkin (at) timeinc.com
PLEASE PERSONALIZE SAMPLE LETTER (If you will be boycotting, please say so.):
Dear
I understand your organization sponsors or promotes the Iditarod dog sled
race, and I want to bring some facts to your attention. This race is condemned by
animal protection groups and animal lovers across the United States. Please
stop supporting this abusive race, and all of the evils associated with it.
Mushers treat their dogs abominably. In the Iditarod, dogs are forced to run
1,150 miles, which is the approximate distance between Los Angeles and
Seattle, over a grueling terrain in 8 to 15 days. Dog deaths and injuries are common
in the race. USA Today sports columnist Jon Saraceno called the Iditarod "a
travesty of grueling proportions" and "Ihurtadog." Fox sportscaster Jim Rome
called it "I-killed-a-dog." Orlando Sentinel sports columnist George Diaz said
the race is "a barbaric ritual" and "an illegal sweatshop for dogs." USA Today
business columnist Bruce Horovitz said the race is a "public-relations
minefield."
Please visit the Sled Dog Action Coalition website
www.helpsleddogs.org and be sure to read the quotes on
www.helpsleddogs.org/remarks.htm . All the material on the site is true and verifiable.
At least 120 dogs have died in the Iditarod. There is no official count of
dog deaths available for the race's early years. Causes of death have included
strangulation in towlines, internal hemorrhaging after being gouged by a sled,
liver injury, heart failure, and pneumonia. "Sudden death" and "external
myopathy," a fatal condition in which a dog's muscles and organs deteriorate during
extreme or prolonged exercise, have also occurred.
In the 2001 Iditarod, a sick dog was sent to a prison to be cared for by
inmates and received no veterinary care. He was chained up in the cold and died.
Another dog died by suffocating on his own vomit.
On average, 54% of the dogs who start the race do not even make it across the
finish line. Of those that finish, 81% have lung damage.
Tom Classen, retired Air Force colonel and Alaskan resident for over 40
years, tells us that the dogs are beaten into submission:
"They've had the hell beaten out of them." "You don't just whisper into their
ears, 'OK, stand there until I tell you to run like the devil.' They
understand one thing: a beating. These dogs are beaten into submission the same way
elephants are trained for a circus. The mushers will deny it. And you know what?
They are all lying." -USA Today, March 3, 2000 in Jon Saraceno's column
Beatings and whippings are common. Jim Welch says in his book Speed Mushing
Manual, "I heard one highly respected [sled dog] driver once state that
"'Alaskans like the kind of dog they can beat on.'" "Nagging a dog team is cruel and
ineffective...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."
Mushers believe in "culling" or killing unwanted dogs, including puppies.
Many dogs who are permanently disabled in the Iditarod, or who are unwanted for
any reason, are killed with a shot to the head, dragged or clubbed to death.
"On-going cruelty is the law of many dog lots. Dogs are clubbed with baseball
bats and if they don't pull are dragged to death in harnesses....." wrote
Alaskan Mike Cranford in an article for Alaska's Bush Blade Newspaper (March, 2000).
Jon Saraceno wrote in his March 3, 2000 column in USA Today, "He [Colonel Tom
Classen] confirmed dog beatings and far worse. Like starving dogs to maintain
their most advantageous racing weight. Skinning them to make mittens. Or
dragging them to their death."
The race has led to the proliferation of horrific dog kennels in which the
dogs are treated very cruelly. Many kennels have over 100 dogs and some have as
many as 200. It is standard for the dogs to spend their entire lives outside
tethered to metal chains that can be as short as four feet long. In 1997 the
United States Department of Agriculture determined that the tethering of dogs
was inhumane and not in the animals' best interests. The chaining of dogs as a
primary means of enclosure is prohibited in all cases where federal law
applies. A dog who is permanently tethered is forced to urinate and defecate where he
sleeps, which conflicts with his natural instinct to eliminate away from his
living area.
Iditarod dogs are unhappy prisoners with no chance of parole. Please end your
organization's association with the Iditarod dog sled race.
Sincerely,
2004 IDITAROD SPONSORS
Daimler Chrysler
Email:
ir.dcx (at) daimlerchrysler.com,
DaimlerChrysler_Customer_Assistance_Center (at) daimlerchrysler.com
Coca-Cola
Email:
pressinquiries (at) na.ko.com,
heyer (at) na.ko.com
Outback Steakhouse
Email
NewsOutback (at) OUTBACK.com
Millennium & Copthorne Hotels
Email:
marketing (at) mill-cop.com
Wells Fargo & Company
Email:
investorrelations (at) wellsfargo.com
Kroger Co. (Fred Meyer Stores)
Email:
investors (at) kroger.com
ChevronTexaco Corportation
Email:
pubaffmr (at) chevrontexaco.com
Exxon Mobil Corporation
Email:
enterprise.comments (at) exxonmobil.com
Coors Brewing Company
Email:
leo.kiely (at) coors.com,
mike.gannon (at) coors.com
Brown-Forman Corp. (Jack Daniels)
Email:
obrown (at) b-f.com
Mc Clatchy Company (Anchorage Daily News)
Email:
ptalamantes (at) mcclatchy.com,
chendricks (at) mcclatchy.com
Providence Health System
Email:
MButler (at) providence.org,
SFVSA (at) providence.org
Cabelas (sporting goods)
Email:
Customer.Service (at) cabelas.com
Comtec Business Systems
Email:
info (at) comtec.com
AVID Microchips
Email:
sales (at) AvidID.com
Global Information Technologies
Email:
sales (at) gitsat.com
Alaska Airlines
Email:
newsroom (at) alaskaair.com,
ir (at) AlaskaAir.com
2004 IDITAROD RACE PROMOTERS
Carnival Corporation (Princess Cruises)
Email:
media (at) carnival.com,
rames (at) carnival.com
Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia Inc.
Email:
mstewart (at) marthastewart.com
Scholastic Corporation
Email:
investor_relations (at) scholastic.com
Bain Capital (Co-owns Houghton Mifflin, a company that promotes the Iditarod
to children)
Email:
info (at) baincap.com
Travel Channel (Discovery Networks)
Email:
dawn.mccall (at) discovery.com,
pandit.wright (at) discovery.com
PBS Teacher Source
Email:
teachersource (at) pbs.org,
viewer (at) pbs.org
EF Educational Tours
Email:
Customer.Service (at) EF.com
Elderhostel, Inc.
Email:
newsmedia (at) elderhostel.org,
registration (at) elderhostel.org
Fodor's Travel Publications (Random House, Bertelsmann)
Email:
editors (at) fodors.com,
polson (at) randomhouse.com,
gunter.thielen (at) bertelsmann.de
Frommer's Guides, For Dummies (John Wiley & Sons, Inc.)
Email:
ecousens (at) wiley.com,
wpesce (at) wiley.com
Lonely Planet Publications
Email:
tony.wheeler (at) lonelyplanet.com.au,
talk2us (at) lonelyplanet.com.au
Travel Smart Books (Avalon Travel Publications)
Email:
atpfeedback (at) avalonpub.com
Hunter Travel Guides (Hunter Publishing)
Email:
hunterp (at) bellsouth.net
Greystone Books (Douglas McIntyre Publishing Group)
Email:
dm (at) douglas-mcintyre.com
TIME for Kids
Email:
emailbag (at) timeforkids.com,
amy_dunkin (at) timeinc.com
Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc.
Email:
jsisk (at) rowmanlittlefield.com
Petplace.com (Intelligent Content, Corp.)
Email:
scottz (at) PETPLACE.COM,
scottz (at) intelligent-content.com
2004 MUSHER SPONSORS
Microsoft Corporation
Email:
msft (at) microsoft.com,
rrt (at) wagged.com,
msnhst (at) MICROSOFT.COM,
microsoftcom_contactus (at) css.one.microsoft.com
Ford Motor Company
Email:
agilmour (at) ford.com
General Motors
Email:
john.devine (at) gm.com
Taco Bell/Denali Foods (Franchisor: Yum! Brands, Inc.)
Email:
tricon.investor (at) tricon-yum.com
UGI Corporation (AmeriGas)
Email:
strategicaccounts (at) amerigas.com
Global Outdoors, Inc. (Outdoor Channel)
Email:
IRglobal (at) goldprospectors.org
Northern Outfitters
Email:
mail (at) northernoutfitters.com
Montessori Discovery School
Email:
discoverywww (at) iquest.net
Udelhoven Companies (Udelhoven Oilfield System)
Email:
joyce (at) udelhoveninternational.com
Patrick Henry Creative Promotions
Email:
annie (at) phcp.com,
myer (at) phcp.com
American Seafoods Group
Email:
asc_mkt (at) americanseafoods.com
Manchester Elementary School
Email:
bonnie_ingraham (at) mcs.k12.in.us
Annamaet Petfoods
Email:
info (at) annamaet.com
Eagle Premium Pet Foods/Eagle Pet Products, Inc.
Email:
jdc (at) eaglepack.com
Breg, Inc.
Email:
info (at) breg.com
Caribou Creek Gold Dog Food
Email:
rambler (at) cariboucreekgold.com
Dogbooties.com (a division of Arrowhead Fabric)
Email:
info (at) dogbooties.com
Cold Spot Feeds
Email:
info (at) coldspotfeeds.com
Grabber Performance Group
Email:
international (at) grabberwarmers.com
Blackwood Dog Food (The Blackwood Corporation)
Email:
info (at) blackwoodpetfood.com
Batteries.com
Email:
info (at) batteries.com
Sofast.net Toll free: 1-877-7-Sofast
Redpaw Feeds
Email:
redpaw (at) cheqnet.net
Benton Elementary
Email:
JBbradley (at) benton.k12.wi.us
Lowe's Home Improvement (Lowe's Companies, Inc.)
Email:
manager (at) lowes.com
AdvoCare
Email:
rlhaynes (at) adelphia.net
Eagle Elementary
Email:
teast (at) zcs.k12.in.us
Micro Air, Inc.
Email:
microair (at) microair.com
Durbin Elementary School
Email:
ktreinen (at) hse.k12.in.us
St. Vincent Sports Medicine Center (St Vincent Hospital)
Email:
stvhr (at) stvincent.org
Ice Miller Legal & Business Advisors
Email:
phillip.bayt (at) icemiller.com,
art.kalleres (at) icemiller.com
Abraham Lincoln Elementary School
Email:
Sheila.David (at) monroe.k12.wi.us
Chesapeake Siberian Husky Club
Email:
pxjones (at) comcast.net
Downwind Sports
Email:
gear (at) downwindsports.com
Isis Clothing
Email:
info (at) isisforwomen.com
Masterfoods (Mars, Inc.)
Email:
site.operator (at) mars.com,
AskMMs (at) MMMars.com,
MMsWorld (at) mms.com,
ethel.us (at) effem.com,
pet.care (at) effem.com
Northern California Siberian Husky Club, Inc.
Email:
info (at) ncshc.com
Siberian Huskie Club of Greater Detroit
Email:
bhorsey (at) aol.com,
yukonwind (at) earthlink.net
Siberian Husky Club of Greater Chicago
Email:
lodgepol (at) mc.net
Union Elementary School
Email:
cfuelling (at) zcs.k12.in.us
Fogtech
Email:
gene (at) menzies.com,
gene (at) motosolutions.com
Hickory Center Elementary School
Email:
sheila.schaeffer (at) nacs.k12.in.us
Frater ("Brother") Joseph F. Rautenberg
Email:
jrautenberg (at) stvincent.org
Triton Elementary School
Email:
cconner (at) nwshelby.k12.in.us
Oak View Elementary School
Email:
pam.sees (at) nacs.k12.in.us
Precious Blood School
Email:
pbschool (at) psci.net
St. Luke Catholic School
Email:
sweber (at) surf-ici.com
Crestview Elementary School
Email:
crestview (at) msdlt.k12.in.us
Neil A. Armstrong Elementary School
Email:
sgraves (at) mcsc.k12.in.us
Cargill Animal Nutrition (Cargill, Incorporated)
Email:
robert_lumpkins (at) cargill.com,
patty_vanderlin (at) cargill.com
Argyle Lions Club (Lions Clubs International)
Email:
districtadministration (at) lionsclubs.org
Dane County Conservation League
Email:
dccl (at) dccl.org
Mt. Horeb Intermediate School
Email:
fenleyann (at) mhasd.k12.wi.us
Springdale Lutheran Church Sunday School
Email:
springdl (at) chorus.net
Argyle Elementary School
Email:
geraldb (at) argyle.k12.wi.us,
KellyB (at) argyle.k12.wi.us
Leggee Elementary School
Email:
bschmidt (at) d158.k12.il.us
Free Spirit Siberian Husky Rescue
Email:
info (at) huskyrescue.org
Bay Area Siberian Husky Club
Email:
vicepresident (at) bayareasiberian.org,
treasurer (at) bayareasiberian.org
Siberian Husky Club of Metropolitan Dallas
Email:
zvezda (at) ispwest.com,
leb7282 (at) attbi.com
Pike Legal Group
Email:
pikelegal (at) aol.com
Prairie Dog Supply Co.
Email:
prairiedogsupply (at) mts.net
Edmund Industrial Optics
Email:
sales (at) edmundoptics.com
Yummy Chummies Salmon Treats
Email:
sales (at) yummychummies.com
Melanzana Outdoor Fleece Clothing
Email:
contactus (at) melanzana.com,
smokey (at) melanzana.com
Polaris Industries, Inc. (makes snowmobiles, watercraft, ATVs, utility
vehicles)
Email:
richard.edwards (at) polarisind.com
Gargoyle Sun Glasses (Gargoyles, Inc.)
Email:
inv-rel (at) gargoylesinc.com,
webmaster (at) gargoylesinc.com
Groenewold Fur and Wool Company
Email:
office (at) gfwco.com
Affinity Advance Pet Food (Agrolimen)
Email:
business (at) affinity-petcare.com
Ski-Doo Snowmobiles, Bombardier ATVs (Bombardier Recreational Products)
Email:
genevieve.dion (at) recreation.bombardier.com,
marie-pierre.grenier (at) recreation.bombardier.com,
steve.cowing (at) recreation.bombardier.com,
marcr.lacroix (at) recreation.bombardier.com
Champion Pet Food, Ltd.
Email:
petfood (at) telusplanet.net
American Dehydrated Foods, Inc.
Email:
info (at) adfinc.com
National Dog Food
Email:
info (at) nationaldogfood.com
Think Equity
Email:
michael.moe (at) thinkequity.com,
dquazzo (at) thinkequity.com,
chayssen (at) thinkequity.com
Wilshire Park Elementary School
Email:
bkirkpatrick (at) stanthony.k12.mn.us
Windigo Outfitters in Iron River
Email:
windigo (at) cheqnet.net
Corona Extra Beer (Grupo Modelo, S.A. de C.V.)
Email:
procermexlt (at) corona-extra.com,
ir (at) gmodelo.com.mx
Napapijri
Email:
info (at) napapijriusa.com
Bamber Valley Elementary School
Email:
kesewell (at) rochester.k12.mn.us
Kefas Outward Call
Email:
info (at) stylgrand.com,
info (at) kefas.it
Autonomous Region of Friuli-Venezia Giulia Italy
Email:
presidente.giunta (at) regione.fvg.it,
angelo.baiguera (at) regione.fvg.it
Anchorage Sheraton (MeriStar Hospitality, Corp.)
Email:
bruce.riggins (at) meristar.com,
melissa.thompson (at) meristar.com
Oakridge School
Email:
jkern (at) esc11.net,
lhbroadus (at) esc11.net
Envia Corporation
Email:
sales (at) eniva.com,
distributorservices (at) eniva.com
CMP - Net Solutions
Email:
ra (at) cmp.it
Pheasants Forever
Email:
pf (at) pheasantsforever.org,
ryoung (at) pheasantsforever.org
Amaize (Marsland Laboratories)
Email message box:
www.amaize.com/dealer_inq.htm
Visit:
www.helpsleddogs.org/sponsors.htm for complete contact information.