PETA campaign/PETA photo
Just in time for the Alaska tourist season, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) is back to again torment Alaska’s legion of Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race fans.
Anchorage People Mover and Mayor Ethan Berkowtiz both got blamed the first time around even though they pointed out the legal restraints on turning down advertising simply because it is politically incorrect, and there are few things more politically incorrect in Alaska than criticizing Iditarod.
Many figured PETA’s pre-race busboards of 2019 were just an attempt to poke a stick in the eye of the 49th state’s biggest sport in order to raise money. For a couple of weeks before the race’s traditional start on the first Saturday in March, Iditarod attracts global media attention.
It peaks as the races rushes to its finish on the Bering Sea coast.
Once someone wins, Iditarod pretty much falls off the media radar for the year, which leaves the motive behind PETA’s latest round of busboards unclear.
Why advertise when anyone who notices the advertising isn’t likely to care much anyway or just get mad at animal right’s activists? Alaskans long ago came up with their own, alternative definition for the PETA acronym: People Eating Tasty Animals.
Nonetheless, PETA is back with busboard 2.0.
A PETA press release noting the latest move shed no light on the organization’s motive.
It’s instead focused on a claim of PETA’s “first of its kind…expose'” focused on the kennel of former Iditarod champ John Baker of Kotzebue and partner Katherine Keith, another Iditarod veteran.
The expose’ features video of a dog named Birch injured in an accident. PETA describes the dog as “crippled,” but it appears in the PETA video that Birch might have had some use of hind legs.
After the PETA accusations hit the news, Keith posted on Facebook that the dog had fully recovered.
“It took a lot of work and time,” she wrote. “Birch had problems using the bathroom but needed to stay inside. This meant frequent mopping. She needed regular massage and Advil to get control of her hind quarters again. I was NOT going to lose another dog.
“The internet photo was taken days after her injury. I would let her outside on occasion to let her cool off and use the bathroom. She needed to be housetrained.
“Slowly we increased her rehabilitation efforts through walks and eventually running. It is about five months after her injury and Birch is fully recuperated. I expect she will do great during fall training but if not she will make a dog owner very happy one day.
“Maybe this was the wrong approach or maybe I should have acted differently. Regardless she is better.”
Comments on Keith’s page suggested video of the recovered dog in training might help snuff the PETA complaints. Keith has not responded to those comments, but it remains possible video could appear any day.
Meanwhile, Chas St. George, spokesman for the race organizing Iditarod Trail Committee (ITC), told Anchorage’s KTUU.com that the organization isn’t taking the allegations seriously.
” I expect she will do great during fall training but if not she will make a dog owner very happy one day.”
Er…are you not a “dog owner” ?
If PETA wants to attack Alaskans, they should go after the big league animal abusers in Alaska. The Natives that hunt whales. Its 2019. Hunting whales is anachronistic, blood-lusting stupidity. There are plenty of domestic protein sources today. Absolutely no justification for hunting whales these days. PETA should focus on the big picture – whales, not dogs.
Animal rights is a major political issue these days in America…get used to it.
States like Colorado are taking steps to become leaders in the nation on animal welfare reform laws.
“To commemorate Animal Welfare Day, Governor Jared Polis joined First Gentleman Marlon Reis and Lt. Governor Dianne Primavera to announce the People for Animal Welfare (PAW) Committee.
The Governor also signed HB 19-1092, Animal Ban For Cruelty To Animals Conviction and HB 19-1220, Court Facility Dog During Witness Testimony.
“We are thrilled to announce the PAW Committee today,” said Governor Jared Polis. “This is an opportunity to look at what Colorado can do to protect our animals from cruelty and ensure their wellbeing.”
“This Committee is about protecting Colorado animals and giving them a voice,” said First Gentleman Reis. “There is so much great work happening in our state around animal welfare and the PAW Committee is an opportunity to bring together experts on these issues and make Colorado a national leader.”
https://www.colorado.gov/governor/news/406-governor-polis-joins-first-gentleman-reis-and-lt-governor-primavera-announce-people-animal
Thank you, Steve, cannot Like , as usual. Yes, get used to it, animal rights is the said to be the last and biggest social justice issue, but you won’t find that here, the place for readers and thinkers.
Berkowitz is a spineless weasel to allow this. This hate speech. Hate speech targeted at the Iditarod. I thought ultra-liberal, San Francisco lawyers were against hate speech. Berkowitz is anti-Alaskan, along with being a douche bag.
I wonder how many times the name of PETA was written in this article, as if that somehow worth noting.
Obviously, this is only about fundraising and i am taking the bait and helping raise awareness of the organization. That said, being a member of PETA should automatically land people of the No Fly List. Wackos.10 years ago they came out this the Sea Kitten campaign. It was designed to stop the killing of fish for food. Maybe they should have asked pet kitties what they think first! Oh that’s right, pets are off limits. Actually, should be a bounty on these people.
I lump PETA, BLM, ANTIFA, CODE PINK, The “Women’s” March, etc.. as the Democrat base. All either criminally corrupt or insane. Either to be ignored or dealt wood shampoos.
Clean of typos.
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Thainks