As we wait for the Iditarod Trail Committee (ITC) to examine a yet-to-be-completed report on the Ramy Brooks dog abuse incident, emotions are running high in the mushing community. AP reporter Mary Pemberton reviewed the current state of affairs and talked with several mushers and long-time Iditarod supporters. She’s gathered quite a few insightful quotes, including from comments made at the ITC board meeting yesterday.
You can read her report at the Anchorage Daily News — but registration is required. For registration-free access, you can read the same article at the Boston Herald and several other outlets.
Why can’t they interview the Golovin witnesses on the phone? Are the village witnesses now thinking Ramy has been punished enough and don’t want to talk about it anymore? Why waste money sending investigators to Golovan? Ramy has admitted he hit his dogs with a stick…and he has been punished with disqualification from the race. I think that’s enough punishment for this transgression…
The other issue is why his dog died later after the 8 hour break in White Mt. Has Iditarod gotten a vet to do tissue samples to determine if the dog suffered organ failure due to exertional myopathy? It could be the dogs quit at Golovin and the one dog died later for the same reason- they may have been asked to run beyond their physical ability. This causes cramps, kidney failure and sometimes death…