Iditarod Musher Dramatically Revives Fallen Dog

[jsmirman]

122. We've easily got 3 or 4,000 kids playing HS basketball here in NYC

let me tell you this - if three kids dropped dead in two weeks, holy shit, you would have a million mom march with a bunch of pissed off mothers carrying tire irons and looking to turn all the city schools inside out.

We're just not going to agree on this or see it in the same way. Btw, believe it or not, I have met Alaskan Huskies - this is NYC - we have all kinds of people, all kinds of animals, all kinds of everything.

You also have me pegged a little wrong, I'm afraid. I'm a strictly adopt, spay, neuter guy. I wish people didn't breed animals at all. I understand that not everyone is going to see it that way, but at minimum I ask that animals not be treated with cruelty, and frankly, I think that if people have just *got to have a breed* they should do something correspondingly charitable for the rest of the world's animals, in some way. But that's just my opinion.

It's interesting that you view mutt qualities as genetic weakness. In the rescue community, we have long since learned that a mixed heritage equals heartiness and general good health. It's the pure breeds that have all the genetic problems. My guy is a cat, and, of course, a rescue, and knock on wood, he's a bruiser and of as stout a stock as you can find. He turned thirteen a few months ago and he's still a wild man and a brawling maniac when he cares to be. Honestly, he seems to be of pretty perfect orange tabby or american short hair heritage, but I like to attribute his good, well, everything, to being a rescue.

What is a real concern I have, as well, about the breeding for sled dogs? What happens to the dogs who turn out to not be ideal for the purpose? Is there a happy ending? I don't know, so I'm asking.


Oh - edited to add - my avatar is a photo of Jane Goodall, which is frustratingly small, because if it were bigger, you would see just how beautiful she was as a younger woman. But that might give you a sense of where I generally stand as things relate to animals...