To Susie and Her Many Kennel Mates: May You All Rest in Peace!

Nearly one year after the 2010 winter Olympics, an animal cruelty case is now under police investigation in Whistler, British Columbia, Canada.

A gruesome story of the killing of healthy sled dogs surfaced recently in this picturesque ski resort. It happened in April of last year not long after the Olympic crowd had left the town. A sled-dog ride operator decided to cull the dogs they did not want to keep. If not for an insurance claim filed by the individual who did the slaughtering, no one will ever know that 100 lively dogs were put through agonizing pain and fear before their grisly death.

While the outcome of the government investigation of the matter is anyone’s guess, no justice can undo the fact that this is a preventable tragedy. Even though these working dogs are no pets, they deserve as much caring and kind consideration as their human counterparts when retiring from their work place. Therefore, it is so unthinkable that someone would take upon himself to expedite the "firing" of his many workmates in such a horrible manner.

This distasteful story has certainly reflected the dog’s owner, the operator of the sled dog ride business, badly. It also prompts many of us to ask these questions.

Why there was no one steps up before this wanton act was about to happen? Where was the vet who refused to help before the inhumane cull? And where were the animal protection agencies who suppose to speak for the ones who cannot speak for themselves?

It appears to me most of the animal cruelty cases came to public knowledge after the fact. By that time the horses have already left the barn. - Ayee