Autumn is feeling much better today

Thanks to all who sent good wishes.

In other news, Lance Mackey won the Iditarod again this year. Here he is with one of his lead dogs:

(AP Photo)

Isn't he adorable and sweet? The dog, not Lance! I don't go for skinny, unshowered men! Isn't the dog sweet? That's why I love these little sled dogs so much... they always look so gentle and sweet and smiley. :)

I must say that I am quite ambivalent about these long-distance races. On the one hand, it seems a harmless sport, and the dogs love it, and most mushers love and take good care of their dogs. On the other hand, when the prize money amounts get too big, then the humans get ugly. Some competitive mushers breed litter after litter of puppies, just to get a few that are good long-distance racers, and cull the rest. Some of them shoot the puppies. Some throw them in a bag and drown them. A lot do not provide retirement homes for older dogs that have outlived their usefulness--they either shoot them or send them to the city pound, where most do not get adopted.

Also, I have to say that although Autumn would probably happily run a hundred miles in one day, ten days of it seems like it would be quite stressful on her, especially since the dogs love to run so much that it makes them such poor judges of their own limits. In fact, if I hooked Autumn up to a harness right now, less than 24 hours after her spay, I bet she would still go out and run for all she's worth. Sled dogs would run with injuries and not complain. In fact, they'd cry if you left them behind. I think that's what makes them so vulnerable to being overworked. Poor things.

Aaaaanyway, all this is to say that these long races do have a very ugly side. I have more of an appreciation for sprint races. I bet the dogs have the most fun of all. They get to run as fast as they want, for just an hour at a time. That's what dogs love best! Not being restrained to run slowly, so they can go on for a hundred miles! I also have more of an appreciation for long-distance mushers who sleep with their dogs. Not the onces who leave their dogs at a camp and then go sleep in a hotel. Brent Sass supposedly stays up half the night giving his dogs leg massages. He seems like a good guy.