Speak Out for Sled Dogs Chained Without Shelter
BACKGROUND
For years, the conditions for Brian Ladoon’s sled dogs in Churchill, Manitoba, have caused outrage among residents and tourists alike. Dozens of dogs are kept chained in extremely cold, windy conditions without any shelter. Reports that dogs are periodically mauled by polar bears and wolves have made it all the worse. Photos provided to PETA can be viewed here.
Manitoba’s Animal Care Act requires an owner to “provide … reasonable protection from injurious heat or cold.” Although the Chief Veterinary Office of the Manitoba Agriculture, Food, and Rural Initiatives reportedly inspected Ladoon’s dogs in the fall of 2010 and recommended that Ladoon provide doghouses and bedding, these animals are suffering through yet another frigid winter without these necessities.
Please politely urge the CVO to act in behalf of Ladoon’s dogs immediately.
WHOM TO CONTACT
Dr. Wayne Lees, Chief Veterinary Officer
Dr. Terry Whiting, Manager, Animal Health and Welfare
Office of the Chief Veterinarian
Manitoba Agriculture, Food, and Rural Initiatives
204-945-7663 (phone)
204-945-4327 (fax)
Click HERE for access to free faxing from your computer. No fax machine, registering, or credit card required. Please remember to confirm the fax via your email after submitting.
Email
animalcare@gov.mb.ca
SAMPLE LETTER
Dear Chief Veterinary Officer Lees and Manager Whiting,
I have learned of extremely disturbing cases of animal cruelty in which Brian Ladoon’s sled dogs in Churchill, Manitoba, are currently suffering in the frigid temperatures. Incidentally, this is not an isolated occurrence and the Chief Veterinary Office of the Manitoba Agriculture, Food, and Rural Initiatives reportedly inspected Ladoon’s dogs in the fall of 2010 and recommended that Ladoon provide doghouses and bedding, which he failed to do.
Please allow me to elaborate. Our global communities share laws, moral and written, and when one person demonstrates such a gross lack of respect for both, our societies must react with concern for the innocent and potential victims. It is our obligation to protect them from cruelty, and Mr. Ladoon’s callous disregard, so easily adopted as demonstrated by his unprovoked and negligent behaviour, needs to be regarded rather than dismissed.
Please respect the victims by demonstrating your commitment to to them and imploring upon Mr. Ladoon to furnish protection from the weather and other animals. Rejecting cruelty by maintaining an unyielding position towards it would be a model for all community members and would serve to characterize this type of behaviour as both impermissible and punishable.
I know your time is limited, and I thank you for your attention to this urgent issue.
NAME
SEE MORE:
how would you feel
left out in the cold
covered in ice and snow
even your heart of gold
as your humans enjoy
a warm, cozy berth
you wait outside
in this frigid
hell on earth
Karen Lyons Kalmenson
I KNOW THE DOGS HAVE A THICK COAT, BUT REALLY, THEY DESERVE TO HAVE SHELTER FROM THE ELEMENTS. THEY SERVE THEIR OWNER AND GET WHAT ????
This happens in Vail, Aspen all of Colorado…I could not go on a sleigh ride after I saw all of these poor animals chained up and barking…they were all so skinny…what people will do to make a buck..
WHAT A DESGRACE…. THESE POOR DOGS DESERVE PROPER TREATMENT/SHELTERS & FOODS, I AGREE WITH BETH ROSS ABOUT HOW LOW PEOPLE WILL GO TO MAKE MONEY !!! PLEASE EVERYONE WRITE IN, MAKE LOTS OF PUBLICITY ABOUT THE DOGS & THEIR SUFFERING.. WILL SOMEONE TAKE NOTE THEN? ONE CAN ONLY HOPE SO… I HAVE ALREADY PUT THIS ON TWITTER !
how would you feel
left out in the cold
covered in ice and snow
even your heart of gold
as your humans enjoy
a warm, cozy berth
you wait outside
in this frigid
hell on earth
Why on earth should someone have to be told how to take care of an animal,cause if u dont know already then you dont deserve to have one,let alone a team of helpless dogs that count on people to take care of them.they take care of their owners and make them money.its the least u could do….
It matters not if the animal uses the shelter I have always provided shelter for my sled dogs and confortable bedding if he can not afford to provide shelter for the dogs they should be removed and given to people that will provide for their welfare.
If I was one of his dogs I would not be very happy to run for him or provide him wih love, since he is showing lack or caring and no love for the animals he wants to work for him.
Corrections: It matters not if the animal uses the shelter or not they need to have shelter and in many cases with the weather is rough they will use the shelter. I have always provided shelter for my sled dogs in fact all of my animals with confortable bedding, dry place to sleep and dry bedding. REALITY: if he can not afford to provide shelter for the dogs they should be removed and given to people that will provide for their welfare.
If I was one of his dogs I would not be very happy to run for him or provide him wih love or even protection if he needs it. In truth he is showing lack of caring, respect, and he reflects a peson who lack love for him self, anyone around him and the animals he wants to work for him.
He needs to be forced to give up all of his animals and prevented from having any more at anytime in his life.
This decades old issue has been taken on by others as well.
Contacts were made not only to the Churchill SAO, but also the Chief Veterinarians Office, the Premier, the Minister of Environment and the Minister of Agriculture. What few responses that were received from same Ministers remains on file.
Attempts by some have been to deify Mr. Ladoon citing that he is preserving the breed, others are very quick to disagree with this description and rightly so express their opinions.
Thus far, the Provincial Government has not shut this operation down, despite the complaints, despite the raised voices.
Supposedly it is all in the hands of lawyers in order to determine what legal action the Province can take. In the meantime these animals continue to exist in frigid temps, subject to bear attacks while providing a means of income for Mr. Ladoon…as well as tourist revenues for the town of Churchill.
http://sleddogwatchdog.com/sleddogcountry_outside.html
http://www.bear.org/website/bear-pages/polar-bear/22/200-polar-bears-and-dogs.html
Shows bear attacking dog on Ladoons property dog survived. Tail had to be removed.
Below site provides the proper Standards of Care required for these dogs.
http://www.canadianeskimodog.com/care.htm
I was in Churchill a couple of years ago and they actually took us to Ladoon’s property and drove around while on a small bus tour. I was appalled!! I couldn’t believe they actually took us there. When I expressed my concerns regarding the lack of shelter, the guide tried to tell me that the dogs just destroy the shelters and never use them. Whatever!! Unfortunately, the day we were there, the weather was AWFUL, as it typical for that isolated part of the world. Between this case that I’ve witnessed, and the awful incident in Whistler after the Olympics, and many others that I have heard of in the past, I think the sled dog industry has just blown it and proven their poor reputation for care or respect for their animals. I’m alerting everyone I can about this unethical industry.