Tell These Companies to Stop Sponsoring the Iditarod

Originally Posted: January 21, 2012

Tell These companies to Stop Sponsoring the Iditarod

[Ed. Note: Please read An Open Letter to Iditarod Supporters, The Untold Story of Iditarod Drug Testing.]

FROM Sled Dog Action Coalition

Please send protest emails, forward this alert widely and post it on Facebook and let these companies know that they must end their sponsorship of this cruel, grueling race that causes pain and death to dogs, before, during and after "the race."

Contact information, groups of email addresses and sample letter are below.

Although some corporations have ended their support for the Iditarod, the dogs still need your help. Take action to end the cruel treatment of dogs by sending protest emails to the 2012 Iditarod supporters. What happens to dogs during the Iditarod includes death, bloody diarrhea, paralysis, frostbite (where it hurts the most!), bleeding ulcers, lung damage, pneumonia, ruptured discs, viral diseases, kennel cough, broken bones, torn muscles and extreme stress. At least 142 dogs have died in the race, including two dogs who froze to death in the brutally cold winds.

Veterinary care during the Iditarod is poor. Here's just one example: Veterinarians have allowed dogs with kennel cough race in the Iditarod even though dogs with this disease should be kept warm and given lots of rest. It's dangerous for the dogs with this disease to exercise with any intensity. Strenuous exercise can cause lung damage, pneumonia and even death. Kennel cough is a highly contagious disease that normally lasts from 10 to 21 days.

Iditarod dogs are beaten into submission. Jane Stevens, a former Iditarod dog handler, describes a dog beating in her letter published by the Whitehorse Star (Feb. 23, 2011). She wrote: "I witnessed the extremely violent beating of an Iditarod racing dog by one of the racing industry's most high-profile top 10 mushers. Be assured the beating was clearly not within an 'acceptable range' of 'discipline'. Indeed, the scene left me appalled, sick and shocked. After viewing an individual sled dog repeatedly booted with full force, the male person doing the beating jumping back and forth like a pendulum with his full body weight to gain full momentum and impact. He then alternated his beating technique with full-ranging, hard and fast, closed-fist punches like a piston to the dog as it was held by its harness splayed onto the ground. He then staggeringly lifted the dog by the harness with two arms above waist height, then slammed the dog into the ground with full force, again repeatedly, all of this repeatedly."

During the 2007 race, eyewitnesses reported that musher Ramy Brooks kicked, punched and beat his dogs with a ski pole and a chain. Jon Saraceno wrote in his column in USA Today, "He [Colonel Tom Classen] confirmed dog beatings and far worse. Like starving dogs to maintain their most advantageous racing weight. Skinning them to make mittens. Or dragging them to their death."

Jim Welch says in his book Speed Mushing Manual, "Nagging a dog team is cruel and ineffective...A training device such as a whip is not cruel at all but is effective." He also said, "It is a common training device in use among dog mushers..." Former Iditarod dog handler Mike Cranford wrote in Alaska's Bush Blade Newspaper: "Dogs are clubbed with baseball bats and if they don't pull are dragged to death in harnesses....."

Most Internet service providers allow people to send up to 40 email addresses at a time. For your convenience, email addresses for the 2012 Iditarod sponsors, promoters, and musher sponsors have been divided into groups of 40. Please email the first group first. Scroll down to find the sample letter. Under it you'll find individual email addresses for race supporters. Email groups with semicolons are on http://www.helpsleddogs.org/sponsors.htm. People and organizations who support the lditarod may deny it or give misleading statements about their involvement. The Sled Dog Action Coalition has documentation to prove what it says and will provide it upon request.

GROUP ONE OF FOUR:

investor_relations@homedepot.com, jmiller@dennys.com, GFayard@na.ko.com, ctuggle@na.ko.com, press@blockbuster.com, robert.olson@dishnetwork.com, tcusick@columbia.com, thomas.p.ostebo@uscg.mil, popyk.la@pg.com, Doug.Scovanner@target.com, Gary.Belsky@espn.com, cmcconkey@scrippsnetworks.com, investorrelations@cusa.canon.com, cpsmember@cusa.canon.com, Craig_Felenstein@discovery.com, cjacobsyoung@nifa.usda.gov, Director@blm.gov, RWeil@mcclatchy.com, richard.d.levy@wellsfargo.com, dvorst@tdw.com, erwyn.naidoo@kinross.com, dsoenksen@aperio.com, ktaylor@remingtontech.net, investors@halliburton.com, DLevine@kldistributor.com, dnicoski@barrick.com, alison.northey@novagold.net, drobbins@electrochemsolutions.com, mbenedetti@greatbatch.com, rcase@afctours.com, gretchen_anderson@csaa.com, info@donlingold.com, ani@ryanalaska.com, info@jdrf.org, oklahoma@jdrf.org, corporateeyecare@uk.specsavers.com, newsroom@alaskaair.com, dwspencer@microlinetc.com, Investor.Relations@ab-inbev.com, investor.relations@iridium.com, investorrelations@wellsfargo.com

GROUP TWO OF FOUR:

JenniferCook@aaawin.com, rparham@columbia.com, nte@nte.no, Superintendent@ccpsnet.net, cmwalter@claire-walter.com, rabqa@claytoncorp.com, mark@fourparkavenue.com, info@firsttoolcorp.com, mlundberg@cruiseshipcenters.com, info@girdwood-ski-and-cyclery.com, glaciercity@acsalaska.net, info@flydenali.net, jana@articrosegallery.com, information@berwind.com, info@wellpet.com, car8@chrysler.com, matsen@uw.edu, info@paramountsleep.com, hotelrep@fdifairbanks.com, info@lokiusa.com, pr@bogsfootwear.com, snug@snugharborseafoods.com, tracie.blackmon@hprhs.com, info@ringersgloves.com, ltyone@ahtna.net, careers@baffin.com, bernt.rasmussen@norservice.no, pma@mx-sport.no, info@point6.com, info@scandic.de, public_relations@homedepot.com, ir-usa@shell.com, yum.investor@yum.com, hi@chempetitive.com, info@kassikskenaibrewstop.com, bill@gretnabikes.com, lynda@lion.sporthill.com, info@ndindustries.com, alpinecreeklodgealaska@gci.net

GROUP THREE OF FOUR:

owner@adventuresakrv.com, info@amazingjourneys.net, marketing@millenniumhotels.co.uk, kroger.investors@kroger.com, capital.markets@exxonmobil.com, kgensel@cpgh.org, Kirsten.Brogan@providence.org, enquiries@dodsonandhorrell.com, webstore@macpac.co.nz,
enquiries@freshcatch.com, sales@genevawoods.com, queenbee@girdwoodforestfair.org, hhylen@beaconohss.com, investor.relations@horizonlines.com, investorrelations@rccl.com, InvestorRelations@ncl.com, media@carnival.com, jfawcett@abercrombiekent.com, BradB@Silversea.com, information@rssc.com, repstein@jccpgh.org, investor_relations@scholastic.com, info@penair.com, cburchfield@alaskanbeer.com, mayor@muni.org, dmichels@nomealaska.org, vrupright@ci.wasilla.ak.us, JLowber@gci.com, resumes@crowley.com, AskMLP@muni.org, alcansigns@alaska.net, dpowers@akserigraphics.com, enisson@nacargo.com, sales@akmining.com, ewaite@sbsalaska.com, sandra@myoyc.org, info@packard-1.com, mel@canada-goose.com, steve@sprocketheads.com, info@intuitionliners.com, alloyd@barrick.com

GROUP FOUR OF FOUR:

ablank@gpworldwide.com, info@coastalhelicopters.com, aes@akexec.com, wiggys@wiggys.com, jtwist@batteriesplus.com, info@teck.com, servicesales@jjkeller.com, contact@redpawfeed.com, eldorado@yknet.ca, help@mtaonline.net, info@usibelli.com, customerservice@northernoutfitters.com, plannedgiving@rotary.org, info@yukonhelicopters.net, ecommerce@grabberworld.com, info@lifeimprovementradio.com, aao@architecture.org, dlandsberg@miamiherald.com, mlambert@miamiherald.com, info@lakewoodalive.com, dan@lupinenorthamerica.com, gwhite@lac.lynden.com, salesrfei@gci.net, grant@pacifictugboats.com, info@trapperscreek.com, info@st-eliashospital.com, enquiries@charitysupportservices.co.uk, info@neaalaska.org, info@selwynresources.com, personnelseward@icicleseafoods.com, info@terusconstruction.ca, rambler@cariboucreekgold.com, thardt@asrc.com, info@adf.com, mikes@harborent.com, MDeMauro@fpdwc.org, director@monticello.lib.in.us, stay@diamondmranch.com

SAMPLE LETTER (Please personalize)

Dear Iditarod Supporter:

For the dogs, the Iditarod dog sled race is a bottomless pit of suffering. Please end your organization's support of this event. What happens to dogs during the Iditarod includes death, bloody diarrhea, paralysis, frostbite (where it hurts the most!), bleeding ulcers, lung damage, pneumonia, ruptured discs, viral diseases, kennel cough, broken bones, torn muscles and extreme stress. At least 142 dogs have died in the race, including two dogs who froze to death in the brutally cold winds. For more facts, visit the Sled Dog Action Coalition website, http://www.helpsleddogs.org .

Veterinary care during the Iditarod is poor. Here's just one example: Veterinarians have allowed dogs with kennel cough race in the Iditarod even though dogs with this disease should be kept warm and given lots of rest. It's dangerous for the dogs with this disease to exercise with any intensity. Strenuous exercise can cause lung damage, pneumonia and even death. Kennel cough is a highly contagious disease that normally lasts from 10 to 21 days.

Iditarod dogs are beaten into submission. Jane Stevens, a former Iditarod dog handler, describes a dog beating in her letter published by the Whitehorse Star (Feb. 23, 2011). She wrote: "I witnessed the extremely violent beating of an Iditarod racing dog by one of the racing industry's most high-profile top 10 mushers. Be assured the beating was clearly not within an 'acceptable range' of 'discipline'. Indeed, the scene left me appalled, sick and shocked. After viewing an individual sled dog repeatedly booted with full force, the male person doing the beating jumping back and forth like a pendulum with his full body weight to gain full momentum and impact. He then alternated his beating technique with full-ranging, hard and fast, closed-fist punches like a piston to the dog as it was held by its harness splayed onto the ground. He then staggeringly lifted the dog by the harness with two arms above waist height, then slammed the dog into the ground with full force, again repeatedly, all of this repeatedly."

During the 2007 race, eyewitnesses reported that musher Ramy Brooks kicked, punched and beat his dogs with a ski pole and a chain. Jon Saraceno wrote in his column in USA Today, "He [Colonel Tom Classen] confirmed dog beatings and far worse. Like starving dogs to maintain their most advantageous racing weight. Skinning them to make mittens. Or dragging them to their death."

Jim Welch says in his book Speed Mushing Manual, "Nagging a dog team is cruel and ineffective...A training device such as a whip is not cruel at all but is effective." He also said, "It is a common training device in use among dog mushers..." Former Iditarod dog handler Mike Cranford wrote in Alaska's Bush Blade Newspaper: "Dogs are clubbed with baseball bats and if they don't pull are dragged to death in harnesses....."

Iditarod dog kennels are puppy mills. Most mushers have more than 50 dogs. Some have more than 100. Mushers breed large numbers of dogs and routinely kill unwanted ones, including puppies. Many dogs who are permanently disabled in the Iditarod, or who are unwanted for any reason, including those who have outlived their usefulness or have no economic value, are killed with a shot to the head, dragged, drowned or clubbed to death.

Please end your organization's association with this horrific race.

Sincerely...

IDITAROD SPONSORS:

Donlin GOLD
Email: info@donlingold.com, dnicoski@barrick.com, s.muir@barrick.com, aschwalm@barrick.com, alloyd@barrick.com, alison.northey@novagold.net

Eagle Pack/WellPet (Berwind-White Coal Mining Company)
Email: information@berwind.com, vbillet@berwind.com, info@wellpet.com

K & L Distributors, Inc. (AB-Inbev distributor)
Email: Investor.Relations@ab-inbev.com, DLevine@kldistributor.com, RicMedlang@kldistributor.com, DGrasse@kldistributor.com

Chrysler Group LLC
Email: car8@chrysler.com, rick.deneau@chrysler.com, kristin.starnes@chrysler.com

Coca-Cola
Email: ctuggle@na.ko.com, sustainability@na.ko.com

Millennium & Copthorne Hotels
Email: david.curtis-brignell@mill-cop.com, enquiries@millenniumhotels.co.uk,
marketing@millenniumhotels.co.uk

Wells Fargo & Company
Email: john.g.stumpf@wellsfargo.com, Jim.Rowe@wellsfargo.com, richard.d.levy@wellsfargo.com, investorrelations@wellsfargo.com, corpcsf@wellsfargo.com

Kroger Company (Fred Meyer Stores)
Email: kroger.investors@kroger.com

Exxon Mobil Corporation
Email: capital.markets@exxonmobil.com, craig.a.haymes@exxonmobil.com

Anchorage Daily News (Mc Clatchy Company)
Email: RWeil@mcclatchy.com

Providence Health System
Email: jo.norton@providence.org, Kirsten.Brogan@providence.org

Alaska Airlines (Alaska Air Group)
Email: chris.berry@alaskaair.com, newsroom@alaskaair.com, joe.samudovsky@alaskaair.com

Peninsula Airways, Inc. (Pen Air)
Email: info@penair.com

Alaska Brewing Company
Email: cburchfield@alaskanbeer.com, jblakley@alaskanbeer.com

The City of Anchorage
Email: mayor@muni.org

The City of Nome
Email: dmichels@nomealaska.org

Horizon Lines
Email: jstorey@horizonlines.com, investor.relations@horizonlines.com

City of Wasilla
Email: vrupright@ci.wasilla.ak.us

General Communication, Inc. (GCI)
Email: JLowber@gci.com, dmorris@gci.com

Crowley Maritime Corporation
Email: resumes@crowley.com

Anchorage Municipal Light and Power
Email: AskMLP@muni.org

Alcan Signs
Email:alcansigns@alaska.net

Alaska Serigraphics
Email: dpowers@akserigraphics.com

Electrochem Commercial Power (Greatbatch, Ltd.)
Email: drobbins@electrochemsolutions.com, mbenedetti@greatbatch.com

IonEarth
Email: Jerry@ionearth.com

Iridium
Email: investor.relations@iridium.com

Northern Air Cargo
Email: enisson@nacargo.com

Beacon Occupational Health and Safety
Email: hhylen@beaconohss.com

Tidewater
Email: dvorst@tdw.com, corth@tdw.com

Alaska Mining & Diving Supply, Inc.
Email: sales@akmining.com

Spenard Builders Supply
Email: ewaite@sbsalaska.com

IDITAROD PROMOTERS:

Target Corporation Target Corporation
Email: Gregg.Steinhafel@target.com, investorrelations@target.com, Doug.Scovanner@target.com, laysha.ward@target.com

ESPN Magazine
Email: Gary.Belsky@espn.com

High Point Regional Health System Cancer Center
Email: tracie.blackmon@hprhs.com, cbest@hprhs.com

Travel Channel (Scripps Networks Interactive, Inc.)
Email: cmcconkey@scrippsnetworks.com

Celebrity Cruises and Royal Caribbean
Email: captainsclub@celebrity.com, investorrelations@rccl.com

Paramount Sleep
Email: info@paramountsleep.com

Canon Professional Services (Canon, Inc.)
Email: investorrelations@cusa.canon.com, cpsmember@cusa.canon.com

AAA of Northern California, Nevada and Utah
Email: gretchen_anderson@csaa.com

National Institute of Food and Agriculture (U. S. Department of Agriculture)
Email: cjacobsyoung@nifa.usda.gov

Life Improvement Radio
Email: info@lifeimprovementradio.com

Discovery Communications, Inc.
Email: investor_relations@discovery.com, Peter_Liguori@discovery.com, Joe_Abruzzese@discovery.com, Michelle_Russo@discovery.com, Craig_Felenstein@discovery.com

Association of Architecture Organizations
Email: aao@architecture.org

Bureau of Land Management (U.S. Department of the Interior)
Email: Director@blm.gov , Mike_Pool@blm.gov

AFC Vacations
Email: rcase@afctours.com

Amazing Journeys, LLC
Email: info@amazingjourneys.net

JCC of Greater Pittsburgh
Email: repstein@jccpgh.org

Norwegian Cruise Line
Email: InvestorRelations@ncl.com, publicrelations@ncl.com

Carnival Corporation
Email: media@carnival.com, pr@hollandamerica.com, publicrelations@princesscruises.com

Scholastic Corporation
Email: investor_relations@scholastic.com

Abercrombie & Kent
Email: jfawcett@abercrombiekent.com

Silversea Cruises
Email: BradB@Silversea.com

Regent Seven Seas Cruises
Email: information@rssc.com

Chesterfield County Public Schools
Email: Superintendent@ccpsnet.net, Patrick_Stanfield@ccpsnet.net

Downtown Lakewood
Email: info@lakewoodalive.com

Miami Herald
Email: dlandsberg@miamiherald.com, mlambert@miamiherald.com

Claire Walter
Email: cmwalter@claire-walter.com

AAA Washington
JenniferCook@aaawin.com, DaveOverstreet@aaawin.com

Forest Preserve District of Will County
Email: MDeMauro@fpdwc.org

Monticello-Union Township Public Library
Email: director@monticello.lib.in.us

MUSHER SPONSORS:

The Home Depot, Inc.
Email: investor_relations@homedepot.com
Email: public_relations@homedepot.com

Denny's Corporation
Email: rstaton@dennys.com, jmiller@dennys.com

Blockbuster (Dish Network)
Email: press@blockbuster.com, franchise.development@blockbuster.com, robert.olson@dishnetwork.com

Columbia Sportswear Company
Email: rparham@columbia.com, tcusick@columbia.com

Halliburton
Email: lawrence.pope@halliburton.com, investors@halliburton.com

Eukanuba (Procter & Gamble Company)
Email: list.tl@pg.com, leroy.jh@pg.com, popyk.la@pg.com

United States Coast Guard
Email: thomas.p.ostebo@uscg.mil, Allison.E.Ferko@uscg.mil, David.B.Mosley@uscg.mil

Jiffy Lube International, Inc. and Shell Oil Company
Email: ir-usa@shell.com

Taco Bell (Yum! Brands, Inc.)
mail: yum.investor@yum.com

Kinross Gold Corporation
Email: erwyn.naidoo@kinross.com

Aperio
Email: dsoenksen@aperio.com

Touch 'nSeal (Convenience Products, division of Clayton Corp.)
Email: rabqa@claytoncorp.com

Batteries Plus LLC
Email: jtwist@batteriesplus.com

Dr. Rick Matsen
Email: matsen@uw.edu

Lupine Lighting Systems
Email:dan@lupinenorthamerica.com

Four Park Avenue
Email: mark@fourparkavenue.com

Outdoor Youth Connections
Email: sandra@myoyc.org

Woolpower (Scandic Outdoor GmbH)
Email: info@scandic.de

Macpac Ltd
Email: webstore@macpac.co.nz

Chudleys (Dodson & Horrell Ltd)
Email: enquiries@dodsonandhorrell.com

Remington Technologies, LLC
Email: ktaylor@remingtontech.net

Lynden Air Cargo
Email: gwhite@lac.lynden.com

Chempetitive Group
Email: hi@chempetitive.com, nature@chempetitive.com

Kassik's Kenai Brew Stop
Email: info@kassikskenaibrewstop.com

Diamond M Ranch Resort
Email: stay@diamondmranch.com

Teck Resources Limited
Email: info@teck.com

Refrigeration and Food Equipment, Inc.
Email: salesrfei@gci.net

NTE
Email: nte@nte.no

Norservice
Email: bernt.rasmussen@norservice.no

MX Sport
Email: pma@mx-sport.no

Point6
Email: info@point6.com

First Tool Corporation
Email: info@firsttoolcorp.com

Ringers Gloves
Email: info@ringersgloves.com

Ahtna Incorporated
Email: ltyone@ahtna.net

Baffin
Email: careers@baffin.com

Oomingmak (Musk Ox Producers' Co-operative)
Email: qiviut@gci.net

Inlet Tower Hotel & Suites (The Packard Companies)
Email: info@packard-1.com

J. J. Keller & Associates, Inc.
Email: servicesales@jjkeller.com

Redpaw Feed
Email: contact@redpawfeed.com

General Physics Corp. (GP General Strategies Corp.)
Email: ablank@gpworldwide.com

Canada Goose
Email: mel@canada-goose.com

The Eldorado Hotel
Email: eldorado@yknet.ca

MTA
Email: help@mtaonline.net

Usibelli Coal Mine
Email: info@usibelli.com

Grabber Hand Warmers
Email: ecommerce@grabberworld.com

Wedgewood Resort (Fountainhead Hotels)
Email: hotelrep@fdifairbanks.com

Pacific Tugboat Service
Email: grant@pacifictugboats.com

Bradley Reid & Associates
Email: info@brcomm.com

Fresh Catch Ltd
Email: enquiries@freshcatch.com

SprocketHeads
Email: steve@sprocketheads.com

Loki, LLC
Email: info@lokiusa.com

Intuition Boot Liners
Email: info@intuitionliners.com

GretnaBikes.com/Lupine Lighting Systems
Email: bill@gretnabikes.com

Northern Outfitters
E-Mail: customerservice@northernoutfitters.com

Rotary International
Email: elizabeth.minelli@rotary.org, plannedgiving@rotary.org

Trapper's Creek Smoking Company
Email: info@trapperscreek.com

St. Elias Hospital
Email: info@st-eliashospital.com

Geneva Woods Pharmacy, Inc.
Email: sales@genevawoods.com

CAC Plastics
Email: phil@cacalaska.com

Charity Support Services
Email: enquiries@charitysupportservices.co.uk

NEA Alaska (National Education Association)
Email: info@neaalaska.org

Selwyn Resources, Ltd.
Email: info@selwynresources.com

Alaska Discovery RV Tours
Email: spikealaska@earthlink.net

Coastal Helicopters
Email: info@coastalhelicopters.com

Seward Fisheries
Email: personnelseward@icicleseafoods.com

Skookum Asphalt Ltd. (Terus Construction Ltd.)
Email: info@terusconstruction.ca

SportHill
Email: lynda@lion.sporthill.com

Wiggy’s Inc.
Email: wiggys@wiggys.com

Caribou Creek Dog Food
Email: rambler@cariboucreekgold.com

Arctic Slope Regional Corporation
Email: thardt@asrc.com

Bogs Footwear
Email: info@bogsfootwear.com, pr@bogsfootwear.com

American Dehydrated Foods, Inc.
Email: info@adf.com

North 60 Petro
Email: mikes@harborent.com

ND Industries
Email: info@ndindustries.com

Alaska Executive Search
Email: aes@akexec.com

Expedia CruiseShipCenters
Email: mlundberg@cruiseshipcenters.com

Girdwood Ski & Cyclery
Email: info@girdwood-ski-and-cyclery.com

Glacier City Snow Mobile Tours
Email: glaciercity@acsalaska.net

Girdwood Forest Fair
Email: queenbee@girdwoodforestfair.org

Fly Denali, Inc.
Email: info@flydenali.net

Peninsula Health Foundation
Email: kgensel@cpgh.org

Snug Harbor Seafoods
E-mail: snug@snugharborseafoods.com

JDRF - Central Oklahoma Chapter
Email: info@jdrf.org, oklahoma@jdrf.org

Alpine Creek Lodge LLC
Email: alpinecreeklodgealaska@gci.net

Adventures in Alaska RV Rentals
Email: owner@adventuresakrv.com

Ryan Air
Email: ani@ryanalaska.com

Yukon Helicopters, Inc.
Email: info@yukonhelicopters.net

Arctic Rose Gallery
Email: jana@articrosegallery.com

Specsavers Optical Superstores Ltd
Email: corporateeyecare@uk.specsavers.com

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