Dear editor,
Lawrence Woodall’s cliché-ridden rant against city-dwellers (City dwellers not noted for their horse sense, Mar. 17) was short on facts but long on name-calling.
His lame, unoriginal stereotyping of “city folk” (just how many times can you say “latte-slurpers”?) betrayed more than a little parochial prejudice against the 80 per cent of Canadians who live in cities. That’s an awful lot of people to think you’re smarter than.
His ideas about urbanites are about as valid as characterizing country-dwellers as inbred banjo players sitting on the front porch drinkin’ moonshine while mamma makes squirrel stew.
In the real world (country or city) people are concerned about the sled dog industry because dogs are tethered for long hours when not working, “culled” by gunshot and pushed beyond their physical limits in races – all inhumane practices.
The dogs’ inbred desire to run is exploited for the sake of entertainment and money. Sled dog operations are businesses – they exist to make profits, not to ensure good animal welfare. Only a ban will stop the commodification of sled dogs, which is the reason they are at risk.
Peter Fricker
Vancouver Humane Society
