AR-News: Good News: Five companies end their Iditarod sponsorships

[Glickman37 at aol.com]

From the Sled Dog Action Coalition, http://www.helpsleddogs.org 

Thanks to your emails, Ace Hardware, Alaska Airlines, Smurfit-Stone, World 
Communications and Carnival have ended their Iditarod sponsorships. However, 
Carnival continues to promote the race by having Iditarod winner Libby Riddles 
speak on its Princess cruises to Alaska. 

Please ask the remaining Iditarod race sponsors and promoters, and musher 
sponsors to end their association with this barbaric race.

ALERT: Who's promoting Iditarod dog torture in 2004?  

PLEASE CROSSPOST

From The Sled Dog Action Coalition, http://www.helpsleddogs.org :

Brutal dog-torture continues at the hands of hardhearted Iditarod mushers. 
Please help the dogs who are forced to run in the Iditarod dog sled race by 
sending protest emails to race sponsors and promoters. The Iditarod has a long 
documented history of dog deaths, illnesses and injuries. On average, 54% of the 
dogs who start the race do not even make it across the finish line. Of those 
that do, 81% have lung damage.

Many dogs who are permanently injured in the Iditarod or who are unwanted for 
any other reason are shot in the head, dragged or clubbed to death. "On-going 
cruelty is the law of many dog lots. Dogs are clubbed with baseball bats and 
if they don't pull are dragged to death in harnesses....." wrote Alaskan Mike 
Cranford in an article for Alaska's Bush Blade Newspaper.

Below is a list of organizations that are 2004 Iditarod race sponsors, musher 
sponsors or Iditarod promoters. Emails are first given in block form and then 
individually under the sample letter. Please blind copy the email addresses 
(email addresses with semi-colons in block form can be found on 
http://www.helpsleddogs.org/sponsors.htm on the bottom of the page):

DaimlerChrysler_Customer_Assistance_Center at daimlerchrysler.com, 
ir.dcx at daimlerchrysler.com, pressinquiries at na.ko.com, 
heyer at na.ko.com, NewsOutback at OUTBACK.com, 
marketing at mill-cop.com, investorrelations at wellsfargo.com, 
investors at kroger.com, 
media at carnival.com, rames at carnival.com, invest at chevrontexaco.com, 
enterprise.comments at exxonmobil.com, dave.dunnewald at coors.com, obrown at b-f.com, 

ptalamantes at mcclatchy.com, chendricks at mcclatchy.com, 
mbutler at providence.org, SFVSA at providence.org, 
Customer.Service at cabelas.com, info at comtec.com, sales at AvidID.com, 
sales at gitsat.com, mstewart at marthastewart.com, 
investor_relations at scholastic.com, info at baincap.com, 
dawn.mccall at discovery.com, pandit.wright at discovery.com, 
teachersource at pbs.org, viewer at pbs.org, Customer.Service at EF.com, 
newsmedia at elderhostel.org, registration at elderhostel.org, 
editors at fodors.com, polson at randomhouse.com, 
gunter.thielen at bertelsmann.de, ecousens at wiley.com, wpesce at wiley.com, 
tony.wheeler at lonelyplanet.com.au, talk2us at lonelyplanet.com.au, 
atpfeedback at avalonpub.com, hunterp at bellsouth.net, 
dm at douglas-mcintyre.com, jsisk at rowmanlittlefield.com, 
msft at microsoft.com, rrt at wagged.com,agilmour at ford.com, 
john.devine at gm.com, tricon.investor at tricon-yum.com, 
IRglobal at goldprospectors.org, mail at northernoutfitters.com, 
discoverywww at iquest.net, joyce at udelhoveninternational.com, 
annie at phcp.com, myer at phcp.com, asc_mkt at americanseafoods.com, 
bonnie_ingraham at mcs.k12.in.us, info at annamaet.com, jdc at eaglepack.com, 
info at breg.com, rambler at cariboucreekgold.com, info at dogbooties.com, 
info at coldspotfeeds.com, international at grabberwarmers.com, 
info at blackwoodpetfood.com, info at batteries.com, 
caninecaviar at caninecaviar.com, redpaw at cheqnet.net, 
JBbradley at benton.k12.wi.us, neisgar2 at benton.k12.wi.us, 
pointmanl at tds.net, manager at lowes.com, rlhaynes at adelphia.net, 
teast at zcs.k12.in.us, microair at microair.com, ktreinen at hse.k12.in.us, 
stvhr at stvincent.org, phillip.bayt at icemiller.com, 
phillip.genetos at icemiller.com, art.kalleres at icemiller.com, 
Sheila.David at monroe.k12.wi.us, pxjones at comcast.net, 
gear at downwindsports.com, info at isisforwomen.com, AskMMs at MMMars.com, 
MMsWorld at mms.com, ethel.us at effem.com, info at ncshc.com, 
bergeson at ospi.wednet.edu, bhorsey at aol.com, yukonwind at earthlink.net, 
lodgepol at mc.net, cfuelling at zcs.k12.in.us, gene at menzies.com, 
gene at motosolutions.com, jrautenberg at stvincent.org, 
cconner at nwshelby.k12.in.us, pam.sees at nacs.k12.in.us, 
pbschool at psci.net, sweber at surf-ici.com, crestview at msdlt.k12.in.us, 
sgraves at mcsc.k12.in.us, robert_lumpkins at cargill.com, 
districtadministration at lionsclubs.org, dccl at dccl.org, 
fenleyann at mhasd.k12.wi.us, springdl at chorus.net, 
geraldb at argyle.k12.wi.us, KellyB at argyle.k12.wi.us, 
bschmidt at d158.k12.il.us, info at huskyrescue.org, 
vicepresident at bayareasiberian.org, treasurer at bayareasiberian.org, 
zvezda at ispwest.com, leb7282 at attbi.com, pikelegal at aol.com, 
prairiedogsupply at mts.net, sales at edmundoptics.com, 
sales at yummychummies.com, contactus at melanzana.com, 
smokey at melanzana.com, richard.edwards at polarisind.com, 
inv-rel at gargoylesinc.com, office at gfwco.com, 
business at affinity-petcare.com, 
genevieve.dion at recreation.bombardier.com, petfood at telusplanet.net, 
rfix at redrobin.com, relations at redrobin.com, info at adfinc.com, 
info at nationaldogfood.com, michael.moe at thinkequity.com, 
dquazzo at thinkequity.com, chayssen at thinkequity.com, 
bkirkpatrick at stanthony.k12.mn.us, windigo at cheqnet.net, 
marie-pierre.grenier at recreation.bombardier.com, 
steve.cowing at recreation.bombardier.com, 
marcr.lacroix at recreation.bombardier.com, wccinfo at wcclp.com, 
site.operator at mars.com, golpheneeb at rainier.wednet.edu, 
sheila.schaeffer at nacs.k12.in.us, msnhst at MICROSOFT.COM, 
eduardos at intelligent-content.com, scottz at intelligent-content.com, 
strategicaccounts at amerigas.com, pet.care at effem.com, 
microsoftcom_contactus at css.one.microsoft.com 

PLEASE PERSONALIZE SAMPLE LETTER (If you will be boycotting, please say so.):

Dear

I understand your organization sponsors or promotes the Iditarod dog sled 
race, and I want to bring some facts to your attention. This race is condemned by 
animal protection groups and animal lovers across the United States. Please 
stop supporting this abusive race, and all of the evils associated with it.

Mushers treat their dogs abominably. In the Iditarod, dogs are forced to run 
1,150 miles, which is the approximate distance between Los Angeles and 
Seattle, over a grueling terrain in 8 to 15 days. Dog deaths and injuries are common 
in the race. USA Today sports columnist Jon Saraceno called the Iditarod "a 
travesty of grueling proportions" and "Ihurtadog." Fox sportscaster Jim Rome 
called it "I-killed-a-dog." Orlando Sentinel sports columnist George Diaz said 
the race is "a barbaric ritual" and "an illegal sweatshop for dogs." USA Today 
business columnist Bruce Horovitz said the race is a "public-relations 
minefield."

Please visit the Sled Dog Action Coalition website  
http://www.helpsleddogs.org and be sure to read the quotes on http://www.helpsleddogs.org/remarks.htm . 
All the material on the site is true and verifiable.

At least 120 dogs have died in the Iditarod. There is no official count of 
dog deaths available for the race's early years. Causes of death have included 
strangulation in towlines, internal hemorrhaging after being gouged by a sled, 
liver injury, heart failure, and pneumonia. "Sudden death" and "external 
myopathy," a fatal condition in which a dog's muscles and organs deteriorate during 
extreme or prolonged exercise, have also occurred.

In the 2001 Iditarod, a sick dog was sent to a prison to be cared for by 
inmates and received no veterinary care. He was chained up in the cold and died. 
Another dog died by suffocating on his own vomit.

On average, 54% of the dogs who start the race do not even make it across the 
finish line. Of those that finish, 81% have lung damage.

Tom Classen, retired Air Force colonel and Alaskan resident for over 40 
years, tells us that the dogs are beaten into submission:

"They've had the hell beaten out of them." "You don't just whisper into their 
ears, ‘OK, stand there until I tell you to run like the devil.' They 
understand one thing: a beating. These dogs are beaten into submission the same way 
elephants are trained for a circus. The mushers will deny it. And you know what? 
They are all lying." -USA Today, March 3, 2000 in Jon Saraceno's column

Beatings and whippings are common. Jim Welch says in his book Speed Mushing 
Manual, "I heard one highly respected [sled dog] driver once state that "‘
Alaskans like the kind of dog they can beat on.'" "Nagging a dog team is cruel and 
ineffective...A training device such as a whip is not cruel at all but is 
effective." "It is a common training device in use among dog mushers...A whip is a 
very humane training tool."

Mushers believe in "culling" or killing unwanted dogs, including puppies. 
Many dogs who are permanently disabled in the Iditarod, or who are unwanted for 
any reason, are killed with a shot to the head, dragged or clubbed to death. 
"On-going cruelty is the law of many dog lots. Dogs are clubbed with baseball 
bats and if they don't pull are dragged to death in harnesses....." wrote 
Alaskan Mike Cranford in an article for Alaska's Bush Blade Newspaper (March, 2000).

Jon Saraceno wrote in his March 3, 2000 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."

The race has led to the proliferation of horrific dog kennels in which the 
dogs are treated very cruelly. Many kennels have over 100 dogs and some have as 
many as 200. It is standard for the dogs to spend their entire lives outside 
tethered to metal chains that can be as short as four feet long. In 1997 the 
United States Department of Agriculture determined that the tethering of dogs 
was inhumane and not in the animals' best interests. The chaining of dogs as a 
primary means of enclosure is prohibited in all cases where federal law 
applies. A dog who is permanently tethered is forced to urinate and defecate where he 
sleeps, which conflicts with his natural instinct to eliminate away from his 
living area. 

Iditarod dogs are unhappy prisoners with no chance of parole. Please end your 
organization's association with the Iditarod dog sled race. 

Sincerely, 

2004 IDITAROD SPONSORS 

Daimler Chrysler
Email: ir.dcx at daimlerchrysler.com, 
DaimlerChrysler_Customer_Assistance_Center at daimlerchrysler.com    

Coca-Cola
Email: pressinquiries at na.ko.com, heyer at na.ko.com

Outback Steakhouse 
Email NewsOutback at OUTBACK.com

Millennium & Copthorne Hotels 
Email: marketing at mill-cop.com

Wells Fargo & Company 
Email:investorrelations at wellsfargo.com

Kroger Co. (Fred Meyer Stores) 
Email: investors at kroger.com

ChevronTexaco Corportation 
Email: invest at chevrontexaco.com 

Exxon Mobil Corporation
Email: enterprise.comments at exxonmobil.com

Coors Brewing Company
Email: dave.dunnewald at coors.com

Brown-Forman Corp. (Jack Daniels) 
Email:obrown at b-f.com 

Mc Clatchy Company (Anchorage Daily News) 
Email: ptalamantes at mcclatchy.com, chendricks at mcclatchy.com

Providence Health System 
Email: MButler at providence.org, SFVSA at providence.org

Cabelas (sporting goods) 
Email: Customer.Service at cabelas.com

Comtec Business Systems
Email:info at comtec.com

AVID Microchips 
Email: sales at AvidID.com

Global Information Technologies 
Email: sales at gitsat.com

2004 IDITAROD RACE PROMOTERS

Carnival Corporation (Holland America Line) 
Email: media at carnival.com, rames at carnival.com 

Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia Inc. 
Email: mstewart at marthastewart.com

Scholastic Corporation 
Email: investor_relations at scholastic.com

Bain Capital (Co-owns Houghton Mifflin, a company that promotes the Iditarod 
to children)
Email: info at baincap.com

Travel Channel (Discovery Networks) 
Email: dawn.mccall at discovery.com, pandit.wright at discovery.com 

PBS Teacher Source 
Email: teachersource at pbs.org, viewer at pbs.org 

EF Educational Tours
Email: Customer.Service at EF.com

Elderhostel, Inc. 
Email: newsmedia at elderhostel.org, registration at elderhostel.org

Fodor's Travel Publications (Random House, Bertelsmann) 
Email: editors at fodors.com, polson at randomhouse.com,  
gunter.thielen at bertelsmann.de 


Frommer's Guides, For Dummies (John Wiley & Sons, Inc.) 
Email: ecousens at wiley.com, wpesce at wiley.com 

Lonely Planet Publications
Email: tony.wheeler at lonelyplanet.com.au, talk2us at lonelyplanet.com.au

Travel Smart Books (Avalon Travel Publications)
Email: atpfeedback at avalonpub.com 

Hunter Travel Guides (Hunter Publishing)
Email: hunterp at bellsouth.net

Greystone Books (Douglas McIntyre Publishing Group)
Email: dm at douglas-mcintyre.com

Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc.
Email: jsisk at rowmanlittlefield.com

Petplace.com (Intelligent Content, Corp.)
Email: scottz at PETPLACE.COM, scottz at intelligent-content.com

2004 MUSHER SPONSORS

Microsoft Corporation
Email: msft at microsoft.com, rrt at wagged.com, msnhst at MICROSOFT.COM, 
microsoftcom_contactus at css.one.microsoft.com 

Ford Motor Company
Email: agilmour at ford.com

General Motors
Email: john.devine at gm.com

Taco Bell/Denali Foods (Franchisor: Yum! Brands, Inc.)
Email: tricon.investor at tricon-yum.com

UGI Corporation (AmeriGas)
Email: strategicaccounts at amerigas.com 

Global Outdoors, Inc. (Outdoor Channel)
Email: IRglobal at goldprospectors.org

Northern Outfitters
Email: mail at northernoutfitters.com

Montessori Discovery School
Email:discoverywww at iquest.net

Udelhoven Companies (Udelhoven Oilfield System)
Email: joyce at udelhoveninternational.com

Patrick Henry Creative Promotions
Email: annie at phcp.com, myer at phcp.com

American Seafoods Group
Email: asc_mkt at americanseafoods.com

Manchester Elementary School
Email: bonnie_ingraham at mcs.k12.in.us

Annamaet Petfoods
Email: info at annamaet.com

Eagle Premium Pet Foods/Eagle Pet Products, Inc.
Email: jdc at eaglepack.com

Breg, Inc.
Email: info at breg.com

Caribou Creek Gold Dog Food
Email: rambler at cariboucreekgold.com

Dogbooties.com (a division of Arrowhead Fabric)
Email: info at dogbooties.com

Cold Spot Feeds
Email: info at coldspotfeeds.com

Grabber Performance Group
Email: international at grabberwarmers.com

Blackwood Dog Food (The Blackwood Corporation)
Email: info at blackwoodpetfood.com

Batteries.com
Email: info at batteries.com

Sofast.net Toll free: 1-877-7-Sofast

Canine Caviar
Email: caninecaviar at caninecaviar.com

Redpaw Feeds
Email: redpaw at cheqnet.net

Benton Elementary
Email: JBbradley at benton.k12.wi.us

Lowe's Home Improvement (Lowe's Companies, Inc.)
Email: manager at lowes.com 

AdvoCare
Email: rlhaynes at adelphia.net

Eagle Elementary
Email: teast at zcs.k12.in.us

Micro Air, Inc.
Email: microair at microair.com 

Durbin Elementary School
Email: ktreinen at hse.k12.in.us 

St. Vincent Sports Medicine Center (St Vincent Hospital)
Email: stvhr at stvincent.org

Ice Miller Legal & Business Advisors
Email: phillip.bayt at icemiller.com, art.kalleres at icemiller.com

Abraham Lincoln Elementary School
Email: Sheila.David at monroe.k12.wi.us

Chesapeake Siberian Husky Club
Email: pxjones at comcast.net 

Downwind Sports
Email: gear at downwindsports.com 

Isis ClothingEmail: info at isisforwomen.com 

Masterfoods (Mars, Inc.)
Email: site.operator at mars.com, AskMMs at MMMars.com, MMsWorld at mms.com, 
ethel.us at effem.com, pet.care at effem.com

Northern California Siberian Husky Club, Inc.
Email: info at ncshc.com 

Rainier School DistrictEmail: golpheneeb at rainier.wednet.edu, 
bergeson at ospi.wednet.edu 

Siberian Huskie Club of Greater Detroit
Email: bhorsey at aol.com, yukonwind at earthlink.net

Siberian Husky Club of Greater Chicago
Email: lodgepol at mc.net 

Union Elementary School
Email: cfuelling at zcs.k12.in.us 

FogtechEmail: gene at menzies.com, gene at motosolutions.com 

Hickory Center Elementary School
Email: sheila.schaeffer at nacs.k12.in.us 

Frater ("Brother") Joseph F. Rautenberg
Email: jrautenberg at stvincent.org 

Triton Elementary School
Email: cconner at nwshelby.k12.in.us

Oak View Elementary School
Email: pam.sees at nacs.k12.in.us

Precious Blood School
Email: pbschool at psci.net

St. Luke Catholic School
Email: sweber at surf-ici.com

Crestview Elementary School
Email: crestview at msdlt.k12.in.us

Neil A. Armstrong Elementary School
Email: sgraves at mcsc.k12.in.us 

Cargill Animal Nutrition (Cargill, Incorporated)
Email: robert_lumpkins at cargill.com

Argyle Lions Club (Lions Clubs International)
Email: districtadministration at lionsclubs.org

Dane County Conservation League
Email: dccl at dccl.org

Mt. Horeb Intermediate School
Email: fenleyann at mhasd.k12.wi.us 

Springdale Lutheran Church Sunday School
Email: springdl at chorus.net

Argyle Elementary School
Email: geraldb at argyle.k12.wi.us, KellyB at argyle.k12.wi.us 

Leggee Elementary School
Email: bschmidt at d158.k12.il.us

Free Spirit Siberian Husky Rescue
Email: info at huskyrescue.org 

Bay Area Siberian Husky Club
Email: vicepresident at bayareasiberian.org, treasurer at bayareasiberian.org

Siberian Husky Club of Metropolitan Dallas
Email: zvezda at ispwest.com, leb7282 at attbi.com 

Pike Legal Group
Email: pikelegal at aol.com

Prairie Dog Supply Co.
Email: prairiedogsupply at mts.net 

Edmund Industrial Optics
Email: sales at edmundoptics.com 

Yummy Chummies Salmon Treats
Email: sales at yummychummies.com

Melanzana Outdoor Fleece Clothing
Email: contactus at melanzana.com, smokey at melanzana.com 

Polaris Industries, Inc. (makes snowmobiles, watercraft, ATVs, utility 
vehicles)
Email: richard.edwards at polarisind.com

Gargoyle Sun Glasses (Gargoyles, Inc.)
Email: inv-rel at gargoylesinc.com, webmaster at gargoylesinc.com

Groenewold Fur and Wool Company
Email: office at gfwco.com

Affinity Advance Pet Food (Agrolimen)
Email: business at affinity-petcare.com

Ski-Doo Snowmobiles, Bombardier ATVs (Bombardier Recreational Products)
Email: genevieve.dion at recreation.bombardier.com, 
marie-pierre.grenier at recreation.bombardier.com,  
steve.cowing at recreation.bombardier.com,  marcr.lacroix at recreation.bombardier.com 

Champion Pet Food, Ltd.
Email: petfood at telusplanet.net

Red Robin Gourmet Burgers, Inc.
Email: rfix at redrobin.com, relations at redrobin.com

American Dehydrated Foods, Inc.
Email: info at adfinc.com

National Dog Food
Email: info at nationaldogfood.com 

Think Equity 
Email: michael.moe at thinkequity.com, dquazzo at thinkequity.com, chayssen
@thinkequity.com

Wilshire Park Elementary School
Email: bkirkpatrick at stanthony.k12.mn.us

Windigo Outfitters in Iron River
Email: windigo at cheqnet.net

Amaize (Marsland Laboratories)Email message box: 
http://www.amaize.com/dealer_inq.htm 

Visit: http://www.helpsleddogs.org/sponsors.htm for complete contact 
information.








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