Dogs and dog care are once again front page news in Alaska. Where the state sport is dog mashing, it’s no surprise.
With the ever-long list of competitive mushers in the news for alleged dog abuse of some sort, long-distance dog masher Hugh Neff is the latest dog driver. Neff has been accused of dog neglect resulting from the death of his dog Boppy on his Yukon quest this year. Quest has also banished Neff from his 2019 race and has requested that he join the 2020 Quest 300 before running the 1,000-mile event again.
Neff said he would fight the charges against him.
[Yukon Quest bans two-time champ from 2019 race]
Whatever the outcome of the situation, Boppy’s death raised more serious questions about the state of sled dog care in Alaska and elsewhere. I’m here.
Every dog owner thinks he knows best not only his own animal, but also his neighbor’s dog. Sled kennel owners are no exception. “Don’t tell me how to take care of my dog!” he would say. But unless the industry itself is wiped out, “someone” will tell him.
Dog sled race organizations such as Iditarod and Yukon Quest need to strengthen. Mushers need to get off their high horses and offer some transparency to the sport — in order to survive.
A big part of this problem is the lack of basic understanding of dog care within the kennel community itself. Over the past few weeks, there have been Facebook posts promoting an amazing kennel setup. One photo showed him with 20 kennels lined up on a concrete platform. Prison photos looked the same. The kennel looked nice, but how did the dog feel about being in solitary confinement?
Another photo shows dozens of houses on wooden platforms all year round. Clean up is easy and there is no need to bury the hole as dogs cannot burrow. Great—for kennel operators. But in reality, most dogs love to dig, whether loose or tethered. Before making any changes to an animal, ask if it is for the welfare of the animal or for the person caring for it.
[Musher Hugh Neff says he is being unfairly targeted]
Another statement keeps coming up in the discussion thread. “44 states outlaw dog racing” This leaves the impression that Alaska is a struggling small minority.In fact, 40 states have banned greyhound racing. Plus he says four states don’t have greyhound trucks. None of the states I have researched specifically mention that dog sledding is illegal. New York and New Hampshire have outlawed greyhound racing while specifically encouraging sled dogs.
Dog abuse comes in many forms, and in a room with 10 dog owners, you’ll have 10 different opinions on what constitutes dog abuse. Whatever each of us deems appropriate for our dog should be left open for debate.
Nina Hansen, Quest’s chief veterinarian, told KUAC, Fairbanks’ public radio station, that the race’s veterinarians failed to pull Boppy out of the race early in the race, but ultimately Boppy’s care was unsuccessful. He said it was Neff’s fault.
Many dog owners were baffled to read that whipworms were found during Boppy’s autopsy. Hansen cannot release autopsy details unless Neff allows it.
But Hansen works at the University of Alaska Fairbanks School of Veterinary Medicine. As a publicly funded institution, the university is responsible for communicating to the veterinary community what may constitute a public health problem.
Chief veterinarians of any breed must be aware of health concerns that may affect the general canine population and take opportunities to educate the public. It’s a great time for our veterinary department to discuss an effective deworming program.
One thing is certain, the problems of sled dog kennels and trail dog care aren’t going to be solved in one fell swoop. With a proactive approach by all veterinarians, mashers and dog product sellers, we plan to do it in small steps.
The person who stands out has the responsibility to come forward and start the discussion. Yes, opinions are analyzed and criticized. That’s fine. That’s the only way to find a solution.
John Shandelmeyer is a lifelong Alaskan who lives with his family near Paxson. He has won his second Yukon Quest.