In September The Sled Dog Action Coalition and People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals led an e-mail and letter campaign to convince a women’s empowerment workshop in New York to drop an appearance by dog sled race DeeDee Jonrowe. Jonrowe is best known for holding the fastest women’s time in the Iditarod.
Yvonne Kopy, director of the Wild Women Unite conference held in Pulaski, New York, told the Associated Press that she received about 30 e-mails a day — some as far away as Europe — asking her to cancel Jonrowe’s scheduled appearance. Kopy told the Associated Press,
I’ve fought many battles, but I didn’t expect this one. The U.K., Italy, France, Scotland. That they really care who comes to Pulaski, New York, I had to laugh.
In an e-mail to the Associated Press, Margery Glickman of the Sled Dog Action Coalition said,
The Iditarod is animal abuse. And animal abuse is not motivational for women.
Similarly, PETA’s Amy Rhodes told the Associated Press,
Driving dogs into the ground and literally working them to death is certainly not a true sport.
Organizers went ahead with Jonrowe’s appearance and she led a parade through Pulaski.
Sources:
Protest targets dog sled racer. Associated Press, September 13, 2004.
Wild women unite in Pulaski. Edwin Acevedo, The Post-Standard (Syracuse, New York), September 18, 2004.
Peta radicals have no place at the Last Great Race. They should be protesting outside of a circus or something. That is JUST what they are, RADICALS!!!!