Sled Dog Film by Fern Levitt
Review by Wolfmaan December 3, 2018
I have been fortunate enough to get a private screening of the 2017 documentary by Fern Levitt called “Sled Dogs: The Cold Truth about Mans Best Friend”. This movie was created with the help of Search Engine Films, the Documentary Channel, and the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) The documentary wanted to show some of the extremely rare, sad, and sinister things that happened in the dog sledding industry in North America.
Humans have a passion for dogs. It’s in our genetic makeup. Scientists have discovered that when early humans began tens of thousands of years ago domesticating dogs for hunting and protection, they became a part of our humanity. Dogs could run faster, smell better, and protect us in ways we couldn’t do ourselves. In return we gave them food, and shelter and love they desired. It has always been a symbiotic relationship. Scientifically speaking humans are genetically coded to love dogs, because those who did not love dogs, and tried to live in caves alone – died. If you didn’t have a dog to help you hunt, your family would have starved. If you didn’t have a dog to watch over you while you sleep, your family may have been eaten by bears, sabertooth tigers, or slaughtered by other tribes. Dogs helped us survive. Dogs have been everywhere on the planet humans have gone, including into space.
Dog on Russian Space Station in Microgravity
For tens of thousands of years dogs have been built and bred for specific purposes. Some dogs are best suited for hunting, herding sheep, and of course hauling loads. Some have been trained to detect bombs, illegal drugs, oncoming seizures and even cancer. Most dogs were bred to have specific working traits, Be it pointing for Pointers, Retrieving for Retrievers, or pulling for Arctics and other sled dogs. Sadly with extreme human domestication, living in cities away from wilderness life, many of these dog traits are no longer needed. For example few people in the western world adopt a Jack Russell Terrier to run around their apartment and kill rats.
The Northern breeds such as Siberian Husky, Malamute, Northern Inuit Dog, and Akita have been bred to withstand extreme cold temperatures as cold as -60C and often haul heavy loads for long distances. Studies have shown their foot pads reduce blood flow in the cold and allow them to go “barefoot” over all terrain and weather. Something few humans can comfortably do. Indigenous people in many northern climates such as Siberia and Northern Canada still use dogs for their day-to-day travels as part of their cultural heritage. Often times dogs are capable of accomplishing tasks that machines cannot.
RCMP Officer with Sled Dog Team
With a deep and rich history, it’s no wonder that sled dog sports have flourished over the past decades. People see the beautiful crystal blue eyes of the Siberian Husky, and hear the yipping of their pack members on the dog line. People who have visited dog mushing facilities watch as the dogs try and pull the sled, even when it’s anchored to a tree or vehicle. The dogs are always raring to go. Most mushers will tell you “These dogs love to run! We can’t make them run. Making a dog pull a sled is like trying to push a rope”. You can see it in the dogs eyes, and feel their energy when near them. They truly love to run and pull.
What could sound better than a dog with over 11,000 years of breeding to run and pull, get that exact life. They get to live in the wilderness, get food better than us, and enjoy their passion. For most sled dogs, and mushers, this is precisely what happens. Every single musher in the world has a passion for dogs. No one gets into dog sports because they dislike dogs. Mushing and handling dogs becomes an unhealthy obsession.
We wake up in the morning and feed and run our dogs. We go to work and think about the dogs. We go on dates with new potential love interests and speak of our dogs. We reluctantly go to social events and leave our dogs, only to speak of our dogs to everyone who will listen. We wake up at ungodly hours to feed, water, and race our dogs. We buy specific vehicles just to move our dogs. We are often surrounded by statues and “stuffies” of dogs in our homes and vehicles. Dog sports consume mushers.
Sadly not everything is as beautiful as it seems. There are large, commercial operations around the world who need to keep hundreds of dogs in order to supply demand from consumers. Most dog facilities take immaculate care of their animals.
The documentary Sled Dogs: The cold truth about mans best friend delves into a few of the bad apples of the bunch. It shows the good, the bad, and the ugly of both the commercial industry and the personal side of the dog sledding industry.
Weaved throughout the film is the plight of a dog musher running the Iditarod. We see how the veterinarians are constantly checking the dogs, ensuring there are no issues with their health, and mushers are shown constantly caring for their dogs. They rub cream on their feet, feed them super high calorie and fat foods, and observe mandatory rest breaks to ensure everyone is in top shape, and the dogs are cared for. Dogs that show any signs of injury such as stiff joints, muscle soreness are “dropped” or removed from the race team. Female inmates at the Hiland Mountain Correctional Center in Eagle River care for “dropped dogs” and continue a tradition which began during the 1974 Iditarod.
This kind of care, constant checking, loving, and caring of the dogs is what everyone expects the industry to be. Most of the dog sled facilities that operate carry a passion for dogs, have staff that live, breathe, eat, and sleep dogs, and will do anything possible to protect and care for them.
The sad part of the film, shows how a few of the dog sled facilities keep their dogs in the off season, how they judge and execute dogs that don’t make the cut, and portray some of the abuse some of the less reputable facilities bestow on their dogs.
Tethered sled dogs with dilapidated but functional shelter
The film focuses a lot on dog tethering. Although dog tethering is the industry standard for dealing with large amounts of dogs, it can quite quickly turn into a neglect situation if dogs are not properly cared for and exercised. Tethered dogs need to be seen to multiple times a day, including spending time off-tether in order to burn off energy, interact socially and get exercise. The photo above shows a tethered sled dog with a home in disrepair. By human standards this “home” may be an abomination, however for dogs this small box provides the ability to get out of the rain. The small size ensures the the dog will not get as cold as there will be less moving air inside the box and they will stay warmer.
Dog tethering in the industry is considered a “necessary evil” for a multitude of reasons. Unlike many peoples fantasies, dog mushers cannot simply buy an old warehouse, fill it with couches and have hundreds of dogs running loose. Loose dogs will almost always lead to dominance issues, fighting, or worse. Dogs that are allowed to run untethered will often make quick twists and turns during play which can rip muscles in their legs and cause irreparable damage to tendons and cartilage. Dogs usually form certain hierarchies and will cause significant harm to each other if this is challenged. Several high end mushers have spoken out AGAINST free running dogs and been supporters of tethering for just this reason.[LINK]
It’s also important to understand that tethered dogs do not spend their entire lives chained up. They are chained up between running. No different than a domestic dog spending 8 to 10 hours in a crate while their owners are at the office. The difference is the dogs are outside, have water and food, and when properly cared for, are constantly being inspected by staff and owners. Proper, humane, attentive, and ethical tethering is an appropriate way to handle large numbers of dogs. Tethering prevents fighting, undue joint stress and tearing of muscles and ligaments.
The scientific study[LINK] by the College of Veterinary medicine at Cornell University found that comparing sled dogs confined by tethers to those confined in pens found no evidence that tethering is unsafe or inhumane if carried out properly.
If a dog is to live on a chain, in a pen, or on a couch they can still be neglected and abused. Proper treatment is key to ensuring dogs live fulfilled and happy lives. Dogs need to feel happy and love by their handlers.
The film also goes in-depth into the 2010 Whistler dog massacre[LINK]. This event was when employees of the Howling Dog Sled Tours was tasked with, and completed the execution of 56 sled dogs. After spending two days killing dogs, Robert Fawcett stated that it caused him psychological harm and required treatment for both physical wounds left by dogs trying to defend themselves from him killing them, and psychological treatment to cope with his own actions.
Shown in the film is something that parallels television shows like CSI with workers clad in exposure suits exposing mass graves of dogs, and investigating their cause of death. Robert Fawcett was sentenced to three years’ probation on November 22, 2012 for causing unnecessary pain and suffering to nine of the animals. Sadly, Judge Steve Merrick concluded Fawcett had “the best interests of the dogs at heart” when he violently slaughtered them Whistler.
The sad part of this incident was the film shows that the expensive investigation did not accomplish much. The only reason this incident was investigated was because they caused “undue suffering” to the dogs. If the dogs had been killed in a manner which did not have them attacking Robert Fawcett, no laws would have been considered broken. Shooting unwanted dogs is not illegal in most areas of North America. Certainly more needs to be done. The government of British Columbia increased the standard of care for sled dogs, and released a guide to killing sled dogs.
Several mushers are interviewed in the film, and describe how they have personally witnessed dogs being beaten with chains, “broken in mind, body, and spirit” as well as choosing which dogs live, and which are to be put to death because they are no longer capable of running. Several are brought to tears recalling what they witnessed.
The film brings to light some of the rare and unfortunate events that have happened in the dog sledding industry. It is an important documentary to watch, and should be widely seen by the general public.
It is very important to note that this film depicts some of the worst of the industry, but does not represent the industry as whole. Most dog mushing facilities care greatly for their dogs and instruct staff to do the same. There is no tolerance for much of what is portrayed in the documentary. All dog lovers who see the rare incidents portrayed in this film are outraged.
So what can be done?
As with all things in the world, public education is key. Yes the abuse and neglect happens in very rare cases. No, it’s not okay.
Removing the heritage of working dogs is most certainly a foolhardy method of dealing with the issues at hand. Dog Mushing is part of many peoples cultural history. Certainly for various Indigenous tribes. In North America sled dogs have been an important method of transportation for both European and First Nations people for centuries. Keeping sled dogs running and pulling is part of their cultural heritage. Canada would not have been settled as a nation if it were not for the help of sled dogs.
Banning dog sledding outright is a horrible solution. This has been proven recently in Florida where a banning of dog sports has resulted in tens of thousands of dogs that now need new, homes or face execution [LINK].
Retired working dogs don’t usually make easy pets without a lot of work. Race dogs which have spend their lives outside do not have any concept of discipline. They don’t know to ask to go outside. They don’t understand the world isn’t their chew toy. They have no manners such as not jumping or lunging. They have spent their entire lives focused on running. Anyone who adopts a former tethered sled dog as a house pet is in for a real surprise when the dog doesnt act like other dogs.
Negative activism such as releasing tethered sled dogs into the wild is a disasterous, inappropriate and childish action. Activists who have done this ended up being responsible for multiple dog deaths in Alaska where 20+ dogs were released by activists only to be hit by cars, eaten by bears and coyotes or never return again.
Focusing on promoting appropriate treatment and care of sled dogs is the best answer. It has never been “us vs them” against activists. Mushers are passionate dogs lovers and everyone wants to see the dogs happy. Public outcry for better conditions is important. Constant oversight by third party investigators (government and otherwise) is important for commercial operations. Whistle Blowers in the form of mushers speaking out is important.
All animals deserve a cruelty free, fulfilling, and joyous life.
References
“War grave experts exhume bodies of 100 sled dogs killed by tour operator in post Winter Olympics massacre”. Mail Online. 3 May 2011
Sled Dog Code Of Practice British Columbia January 30, 2012
Hindes, L. M. (2003). Historical perspectives on the human-animal bond. American Behavioral Scientists, 47(1), 7-15. doi: 10.1177/0002764203255206
Nitkin, Patricia. “The Human-Animal Bond”, B.C. Cancer Agency, University of British Columbia. Retrieved on 2011-06-19.
The arguments in favour of dog tethering June 23, 2018 KTUU News