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TO:Federal & State Elected Officials

Dear Elected Official:

I am writing to you to express my concern about the treatment of sled dogs. In many sled dog kennels the dogs are permanently tethered on chains as short as 3 to 4 feet long. The only time these dogs are not tethered is when they are pulling a sled. Tethering as a means of primary or permanent enclosure is cruel and inhumane because:

1) Continuous chaining psychologically damages dogs and makes many of them very aggressive animals. (Imagine what kind of person you would be if you were tethered 24/7?)
2) A dog that 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.
3) Because the chained dog is always close to his own fecal material, he can easily catch deadly parasitic diseases by stepping in or sniffing his own waste.
4) Even if the fecal matter is picked up, the area where the dog can move about becomes hard-packed dirt that carries the stench of animal waste. The odor and waste attract flies, which bite the dog's ears, often causing serious bloody wounds and permanent tissue damage.
At one time the USDA issued a regulation prohibiting tethering as a primary means of enclosure. Sled dog mushers lobbied to have the rule repealed, and they succeeded. The rule needs to be reinstated!

I believe sled dogs deserve just as much love, care and attention as any other domestic pet. To allow them to endure years of abuse simply because they are working dogs is not acceptable. I am confident this issue is important to many of your constituents. Please acknowledge this message and let me know your position on this matter.

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Sincerely,

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