Snowmobiler Intentionally Crashes into Ididarod Dog Team

[SGOS]

...Killing one dog, and injuring two others.  Talk about mindless violence.  You have to wonder about people.

http://news.yahoo.com/iditarod-dog-killed-musher-injured-191900898.html

Apparently, the engine cover came off during the second crash, so State Troopers are off to the nearest village (Nulato), looking for a broken snow mobile.

[stromboli]

Why in the fuck would anybody do that? Mushers take damn good care of their dogs and the Iditarod honors the rushing of vaccine to a stricken town in Alaska. What the hell was the point? That is as senseless an act as I can conceive.

[SGOS]

Why in the fuck would anybody do that? Mushers take damn good care of their dogs and the Iditarod honors the rushing of vaccine to a stricken town in Alaska. What the hell was the point? That is as senseless an act as I can conceive.

It's the senselessness that makes this mind boggling.  We get upset when someone shoots someone in the face over something petty.  We punish these behaviors, while we understand an underlying rage involved, even one that is exaggerated beyond reason, but crashing into a dog sled team?  What potential problem is being solved?  What satisfaction is fulfilled?  What offensive behavior is displayed by a musher driving a team of enthusiastic dogs out in the middle of nowhere?

[Mermaid]

I am interested to know the motive behind this act. The Iditarod is a much-maligned event by animal rights activists.

[SGOS]

I am interested to know the motive behind this act. The Iditarod is a much-maligned event by animal rights activists.

I didn't realize this, but you are right.  I took the time to look it up.  Some animal rights activists don't like it.  I cannot say that all the Iditarod racers take good care of their dogs.  I don't know that.  I don't know how accurate the assessment of such activist groups are either.  But I'm doubtful that whoever killed that dog and injured the others was that kind of activist.   He certainly doesn't strike me as a dog lover, anyway.  He strikes me more like an alcoholic.

[stromboli]

Which is stupid because the dogs are raised for the sole purpose of pulling dog sleds. They love it and live for it. And killing a dog and injuring others proves what? Mushers love their dogs and take care of them. You don't mush for a thousand miles with anemic, lackluster animals. They are healthy, powerful and aggressive.

[Gawdzilla Sama]

I doubt drink was involved.


No, I don't.

[SGOS]

Which is stupid because the dogs are raised for the sole purpose of pulling dog sleds. They love it and live for it. And killing a dog and injuring others proves what? Mushers love their dogs and take care of them. You don't mush for a thousand miles with anemic, lackluster animals. They are healthy, powerful and aggressive.

Yes, sled dogs love to pull, and I've seen Siberian Huskies that can't stop pulling, the same way retrievers can't stop bringing back a ball.  Not that that makes it healthy for them to do it, but to not let a husky pull something is almost like animal cruelty in itself.  Also, dog sledding doesn't seem like the kind of sport that would attract non animal lovers.  Sure it could happen, and it probably has, but I doubt that the Iditarod is a hotbed of animal cruelty.  But I've never actually considered or investigated that before today.  The comments I read from the animal rights groups were interesting, but they were all of the nature of what could happen during the heat of a race.  None could name names or point to precise examples where these things did happen, only that they could.  The Iditarod does have rules about these kinds of abuses, so they don't seem to be encouraging animal cruelty, or mindless of the risks.

I actually like the idea of animal rights groups, and I think they should be part of the important dialog, but I can't say how reasonable their claims are.  I don't actually know that... Yet.

[SGOS]

One claim made by one of the animal rights groups was something like over 100 dogs have died in the Iditarod over the past how many ever years.  I was an alarming number, but it was over a long period of time, and undoubtedly includes deaths that would be unlikely to happen under today's rules and conditions.  But it is food for thought.

We can't control all deaths, but if actual cruelty takes place, we should control that.  This in fact, is being done, although perhaps not to the extent that dog team racing is outlawed.  But the debate still seems worthwhile.

[josephpalazzo]

In an interview with KTUU just prior to his arrest, Nulato admitted he'd been out drinking just before coming upon Zirkle and her team.

Regardless, if you drink, you are responsible for anything you do under the influence. I hope they apply the law to the fullest. No excuses.

[SGOS]

Regardless, if you drink, you are responsible for anything you do under the influence. I hope they apply the law to the fullest. No excuses.

That goes without saying.  Drinking doesn't excuse any behavior.

I figured they'd find that guy.  That part of Alaska is so unpopulated, he was probably 1 out of 200 people within snow mobile range, and he probably came from the nearest village.

Did the news story suggest a motive (other than I was drinking)?

[josephpalazzo]

That goes without saying.  Drinking doesn't excuse any behavior.

I figured they'd find that guy.  That part of Alaska is so unpopulated, he was probably 1 out of 200 people within snow mobile range, and he probably came from the nearest village.

Did the news story suggest a motive (other than I was drinking)?

I agree with you that other motives should not be discarded. But what he said when he was taken under arrest is that he had been drinking. The report doesn't say if he is sorry or not.