GREENLAND SLED DOGS
Groenlandhunde Greenland
sled Dogs - English and German text.
Petition
for the Greenland sled dog
www.canadianvoiceforanimals.org/GreenlandSledDogs.html
www.helpsleddogs.org
Scroll down for correspondence -
reactions
A
SWEET MOTHER WITH HER TWO FROZEN PUPPIES
PLEASE SIGN THE GREENLAND DOG PETITION ON THE SISTER SITE OF
CANADIAN VOICE FOR ANIMALS IN NORWAY:
www.opprop.no/opprop.php?id=sledehunder
KnockedOutTeeth
www.skullsite.co.uk/Lucky/lucky.htm
PLEASE COPY AND PASTE THE LETTER BELOW,
AND SEND IT TO:
Greenlands prime minister, Hans Enoksen, E-mail:
hans@gh.gl
Mr Hans Henoksen:
Premier,
Greenland
Dear Mr. Premier Henoksen:
We, at the Canadian Voice For Animals, Argentina Chapter, have just
received terrible news and shocking images of the treatment of sled
dogs in Greenland. We have also been informed about the despicable
conditions in which these poor animals live, e.g., seldom do they
have water, fed but once a week; tortured and exposed to freezing
temperatures among other things. All this, despite the fact that as
far as we know, your country has laws to prevent such
cruelty.
We have also heard from other concerned people who have already
contacted your offices and received the poor excuse that "your
government is opposed to this". This response is not enough; if you
have laws they must be enforced. Mr Henoksen, as the head of your
country you have the fate of these poor animals in your hands and
the world is looking at you. We urge you to put a stop to this
immediately and take all the necessary measures to enforce your
laws. We are forwarding this e-mail to the Greenlandic media,
Danish embassies all over the world, tourism offices and all our
contacts throughout the world.
Prof. Myrta Montiel
President.
Mara Ins Bacigalupo,
Executive Office
The Canadian Voice for Animals Argentina Chapter
WE AGREE 100% WITH THE ABOVE LETTER:
NAME;
E--MAIL:
COUNTRY
BCC, OR CC COPIES CAN ALSO BE SENT TO THE FOLLOWING
ADDRESSES:
Media:
info@gh.gl, stina@ag.gl, elna@ag.gl, nicolai@ag.gl, arne@ag.gl,
krarup@sermitsiaq.gl, irene@sermitsiaq.gl ,
erik@sermitsiaq.gl
Greenland government: hans@gh.gl , tuusi@gh.gl,
lars.johansen@ft.dk, lotte.symes@ft.dk, minnguaq.kleist@ft.dk,
kuupik.kleist@ft.dk, hogni.hoydal@ft.dk, hans.helms@ft.dk,
nasibm@ft.dk, ip@gh.gl, ombudsman@greennet.gl, oslamb@um.dk
Greenland embassies in the world: madamb@um.dk,
ambadane@ambadane.org.ar, dtcsydney@dtcsyd.org.au , vieamb@um.dk,
bruamb@um.dk, bsbamb@um.dk, ottamb@um.dk, lsorensen@ajbroom.cl,
tllamb@um.dk, helamb@um.dk , paramb@um.dk , beramb@um.dk,
budamb@um.dk, dubamb@um.dk , romamb@um.dk, luxamb@um.dk,
consulate@gollcher.com, danconsul@libello.com, haaamb@um.dk ,
danish.nz@xtra.co.nz, oslamb@um.dk, lisamb@um.dk, stoamb@um.dk,
brnamb@um.dk, lonamb@um.dk, wasamb@um.dk,
Tourism offices: info@greenland.com, qtt@greennet.gl,
turist@greennet.gl, uummannaq@icecaphotels.gl,
qeqertarsuaq@disko.gl, discobay@icecaphotels.gl,
info@nuuk-tourism.gl, tourism@ammassalik.gl, qtt@greennet.gl,
turist@greennet.gl, uummannaq@icecaphotels.gl,, info@its.gl,
greenland.tours@greennet.gl, incoming@greenland-travel.gl,
Hideo@gt.gl
Air Transportation:
sfjtrafik@airgreenland.gl, info@airgreenland.gl,
advnorth@greennet.gl
CLICK HERE TO SIGN OUR
PETITION
CONTACT US
Reaction received 14 Feb 07:
Naalakkersuisut Allattoqarfiat
Tusagassiivik
Secretariat to the Cabinet
Section of Information Tusagassiivik
Greenland Home Rule condemns neglect of dogs
6.02.2007
P.O. Box 1015
3900 Nuuk
Tel: +45 299 34 50 00
Fax: +45 299 32 86 02
info@gh.gl
www.nanoq.gl
Dear Sir,
Thank you for your concern about the treatment of sledge dogs in
Greenland.
Sledge dogs are an important part of Greenland’s cultural heritage.
It is therefore of the utmost importance to stress that the abuse
referred to in the Danish newspaper Ekstrabladet on 5 February 2007
is illegal under Greenland legislation on animal protection and
keeping sledge dogs. Greenland Home Rule condemns all forms of
abuse of sled dogs.
The act on animal protection entered into force in 2003, to
protect, amongst others, sledge dogs. Furthermore, since 1998 an
act on keeping sledge dogs has been in force.
The sledge dog district spans from Sisimiut in the South to Qaanaaq
in the North and includes East Greenland. Currently, two veterinary
officers have the entire sledge dog district as their working area,
and they are doing what they can to assist and guide dog
owners.
A map of Greenland reveals the scope of this vast district and the
limited possibilities to check up on dog owners to ensure that all
dogs are being cared for properly. The veterinary officers deal
with all reports on neglect of dogs and make visits as much as
possible.
The Government of Greenland will be kept up-to-date on the case in
question and will subsequently take a position on what is to be
done in the matter.
For more information on animal protection and keeping sledge dogs
see the Greenland Home Rule Parliament Act no. 18 of 30 October
1998 on sledge dogs and keeping dogs and cats, as well as the
Greenland Home Rule Parliament Act no. 25 of 18 December 2003 on
animal protection on www.nanoq.gl (only available in Danish and
Greenlandic).
On behalf of Greenland Home Rule Government
Sincearly,
Paornánguaq Kleist
Section of Information
P.O. Box 1015, 3900 Nuuk
Tel.: +299 34 68 41, Fax: +299 32 86 02
info@gh.gl, www.nanoq.gl
Reaction on this letter shown above:
On Feb 14, 2007, at 11:29 PM, The Canadian Voice - Argentina
wrote:
Dear Mr Kleist,
We have received your response related to the issue of the
Greenland Sled Dogs. According to your e-mail your government is
opposed to these barbaric and sadistic practices but apparently the
inhabitants of Greenland are not aware of this. The world is
looking at your country and it is not enough that you tell us that
two veterinarians are checking 21,000 dogs as you have informed us.
You use the word "guide" dog owners but those individuals do not
need to be guided they need to serve a long time in prision for
abusing those magnificent and loving animals. We are talking about
the twenty-first century and not about the twelfth century or is it
that the entire population of Greeland is illiterate and live in
the Dark Ages????.
In your e-mail, Mr Kleist you say that you have laws banning this
type of misconduct since 2003, it´s 2006 and you have not been able
to solve this problems yet, this is more than enough for those poor
animals who have been neglected not only by the people but due to
the ineptitude of a government and the lack of skills to manage a
situation that has gone too far.
As we have stated in our previous e-mail and in the worldwide
petition we have launched this weekend, the world is getting to
know Greenland and not precisely for its natural beauties but for
the despicable treatment of man´s best friend.
Yours truly,
Professor Myrta Montiel
President
María Inés Bacigalupo
Executive Office

TEETH KNOCKED OUT WITH HAMMER SO
THEY DON'T CHEW THEIR HARNESS
ALSO SEE THIS LINK:
MotherWithFrozenPuppies
Correspondence received via other organisations:
MP Kuupik Kleist, IA:
"Since the Danish tabloid Ekstrabladet featured the story of the
neglected and abused dogs on 5 February 2007, the Greenland Home
Rule has been receiving protest e-mails from Scandinavia, and the
wave of protest has now spread to 21 countries throughout the
world.
- We have received e-mails from countries in Europe, in North,
Central and South America, and in Asia. Animal control
organisations, amongst others, are behind dissemination of the news
to the many people from whom we have received e-mails. Pressure
from the outside world is increasing and Members of the European
Parliament have begun to receive protest e-mails. This development
is worrying, says Mr Heilmann, who takes the situation very
seriously.
-
It must be difficult to imagine that other people in many parts of
the world live under conditions and according to survival terms
that are radically different from their own. Let us hope that the
people behind this international smear campaign are fully aware of
their responsibility and the consequences of their actions.
Unfortunately, we may be heading for a situation in the near future
when, eventually, very few sledge dogs will be left and their only
purpose will be to transport rich Western tourists around the last
remaining sections of the inland ice cap."
Sidetracked Debate on Greenland's Sledge Dogs
The recent photos sent round the world of neglected sledge dogs in
Greenland have aroused indignant protests and understandably so.
The debate is undoubtedly justified, and we, the people of
Greenland, undoubtedly have an unpleasant, lamentable problem on
our hands that we must do our utmost to resolve. Even now many
initiatives have been set in motion, both by the Greenland Home
Rule and by the inhabitants of districts where the dogs are kept
because we have an animal protection act that has obviously been
violated and which we must follow.
In my opinion, however, two aspects of the current debate are
unacceptable: 1) the possible causes of this tragedy are completely
missing from the debate; and 2) we, the people of Greenland, once
again - as in the seal issue - must bear the brunt of a worldwide
smear campaign which this time, too, will affect a people who have
been living off the land and its resources in a harsh climate for
thousands of years.
As I see it, Greenland's hunters - and their dogs - are in reality
the first victims of global climate change, and the individual
problems of animal neglect ought to be viewed as one alarming
symptom of a problem of global dimensions. The hunters' - and thus
the sledge dogs' - basis of survival is the snow and ice that are
disappearing with such alarming haste that it is difficult for the
hunters to readjust to the new situation, occupationally or
culturally. In many areas, the drastic climate changes have
transformed the hunting conditions, rendered the sledge dogs
superfluous and even pose new challenges for the hunters in the
Arctic environment, already harsh to begin with, where the very act
of supporting oneself and one's family has been extraordinarily
difficult at times. Some hunters simply cannot afford to feed or
care for their dogs as they should. The very fact that the identity
and culture of a hunter from North Greenland is inextricably bound
to the use of dog sledges for transportation and hunting is
partially responsible for a situation where many hunters have not
had the heart to kill their dogs after all.
The hunters regard the more than 60,000 sledge dogs as "utility
animals" - not pets. By no means does this justify neglecting one's
animals, but it ought to serve as a reminder that other animal
species in Denmark and the "civilised Western world" are regarded
from the same utilitarian, "unromantic" point of view. Being a
traditional hunter in Greenland is not the same as being backward
or morally callous. Nor is being a farmer in Denmark, in spite of
the fact that massive problems and wretched conditions are also
found within the Danish meat industry. For this reason, the Danish
People's Party's idea of linking block grants to animal protection
is just as hysterical as if the European Union had put a definitive
stop to all agricultural subsidy to Denmark because of neglected
livestock on Danish farms.
The debate lacks objectivity and a sense of proportion. When
leading lights in the so-called industrialised countries express
their views in this debate by sending standard e-mails worldwide
with the same photos of neglected sledge dogs, they have a
responsibility. They have a responsibility to study the issues in
the debate in which they are participating and realise that by
pressing a few keys on their keyboard, they can significantly
worsen the plight of other people in a totally different situation.
But this must be difficult to do, of course, from the comfort and
warmth of one's living room, presumably surrounded by all the
material goods that have contributed to the manmade climate change.
It must be difficult to imagine that other people in many parts of
the world live under conditions and according to survival terms
that are radically different from their own. Let us hope that the
people behind this international smear campaign are fully aware of
their responsibility and the consequences of their actions.
Unfortunately, we may be heading for a situation in the near future
when, eventually, very few sledge dogs will be left and their only
purpose will be to transport rich Western tourists around the last
remaining sections of the inland ice cap.
MP Kuupik Kleist, IA"
Reaction CVFA - March 19, 2007:
Dear Mr. Kleist:
First let me congratulate you on an excellent piece of spin
doctoring, and second, let me say I'm very happy to say the
Canadian Voice for Animals is more than willing to take blame for
what you are now calling a smear campaign, and we fully admit that
we began the campaign on February 8th, 2007. Regrettably, your
attempted rhetoric in the attached document is an obvious omission
of guilt, and I assure you that I, and my associates around the
world are aware of the consequences of our actions.
I applaud you for admitting that the people of Greenland have a
lamentable problem on their hands, how true that is sir, and unless
we see positive proof that action is being taken to protect the
sled dogs of your county, we will begin a full fledged boycott of
all things from Greenland and Denmark.
The two aspects of the current debate that you think are
unacceptable make no sense.
First: Yes, you must bear the brunt of the campaign to help the
sled dogs. The cause of the debate is that the owners of the dogs
just don't give a care what happens to the dogs as there will
always be a group of new pups to take their place, provided they
don't freeze to death on the Island of Death.
Second: Your peoples live off the land. In the Northern Territories
of Canada the Canadian Eskimos live off the land, and like
Greenlanders, they too, have a limited time to stock up on
supplies. However, unlike the Greenland peoples, the Canadian
Eskimos take very good care of their dogs so that they live long
and productive lives…Sorry, Mr. Kleist, you are still batting
zero.
Global warming has been happening for decades. The Greenland and
Denmark governments, had they been responsible governments, should
have made provision for such a problem as global warming. To use
the excuse that the hunters cannot afford to feed their dogs and
don't have the heart to kill them is, at the very least, comical
and completely ludicrous. However, the hunters are quite prepared
to set their dogs loose on an island and let them starve to death.
Those that do survive, do so by eating their dead mates…this has
been going on for decades and that Mr. Kleist is a world-known
fact.
You cannot blame any industrial nation for your negligence. All
countries have problems. There are many problems in Canada and we
are addressing them with smear campaigns against our own
government. The slaughter houses in Canada are a disgrace as they
are in many other countries. I also address this problem by being
totally VEGAN…The slaughter of the Harp Seals each year in Canada
is a national disgrace. The CVFA is also campaigning to have that
slaughter stopped. Animal foundations all over Canada have joined
forces and the government is feeling the brunt of our
actions.
You also state that there are 60,000 sled dogs that are considered
working dogs and not pets. How does that statement justify the
massive deaths of the dogs each and every year from starvation and
freezing? Again, Mr. Kleist, you are batting zero.
For your information; I do live in a very nice flat and I have a
Siberian Husky who will be 16 on the 3rd of April. She loves being
outside, but always wants to come in when it gets too cold.
Further, Mr. Kleist, I and all of my colleagues will continue to
send out mail to newspapers, television stations, magazines, and
anyone else who cares to listen.
I look forward to some positive action, and please, no more of this
redundant rhetoric, as no one is buying such lame excuses.
I am, respectfully yours,
Earle Bingley
Canadian Voice For Animals
* . * . *
Letter by Action Against Poisoning
Subject: Comment on treatment sled dogs
Date: March 31, 2007 3:18:04 PM GMT+01:00
To:
info@gh.gl
Paornánguaq Kleist
Section of Information
Dear Mr Kleist,
Action Against Poisoning fights animal poisoning in particular and
supports animal protection efforts in general. We assume that
during the past years you have been well informed on the details of
neglect and abuse of sled dogs in your country. The miserable care
for and treatment of these dogs reflects an utter disregard for
animal welfare. The fact that this structural dismal situation is
condoned by authorities also reflects a rock bottom priority in
Greenland's policies for the most basic human values regarding
respect for life, any life and responsibility for life held in
human trust.
We have been confronted with numerous sad cases of abandoned and
maltreated utility animals, especially hunting dogs all over the
world. It is clear that their owners are unfit for their task to
care for their animals and - lacking a sense of responsibility -
they should be banned from ownership for life. We cannot witness
the acts of violence on the barren plains of Greenland, but the
marks of brutality on the sledge dogs betray the conduct of the
owner. It may be clear that we demand a proper enforcement of
animal protection laws to stop animal abuse.
We would like to point out that in the case of sled dogs we meet
aggravating circumstances in Polar regions. We understand that -
beside the regular abuse - sled dogs are abandoned because of the
emergence of snow scooters. In moderate climates a number of
abandoned animals survives in nature and a few of them can find new
homes. On the other hand sled dogs have no chance at all as natural
circumstances make survival impossible.
We ask you to use your powers, either in the field of legislation
and law enforcement or in the field of information to stop the
cruelty inflicted on men's best friend. Especially when you realize
the immense mutual life saving dependability of the sled dog and
its owner.
With kind regards,
Action Against Poisoning
www.actionagainstpoisoning.com
*
In Summer 2007 a trip to Greenland .........
a chance for the climate - but also for the Greenland sled
dogs?
Translated with the friendly assistance of Isabell Cezanne -
Geradts and Natalie Kronenberg.
Many thanks Isabell and Natalie.
In August 2007, not only Chancellor Mrs. Angela Merkel but our
family we went to the west-coast of Greenland to Sisimiut and
Ilulissat - two villages with about 5000 citizens and many more
Greenland sled dogs. Greenland, the largest island of the world,
fits nearly into Middle-Europe; however it is sparsely populated by
about 55.000 citizens which inhabit small villages along the
coast.
We visited places above the polar circle which represents the dog -
border. Only Greenland sled dogs are kept beyond this point where
no one is allowed to import or export them; below the polar-circle
other breeds are allowed. Dogs are not allowed to cross this border
guaranteeing that the “Greenland sled dogs remain pure bred.”
One would hope the dogs, kept traditionally for chasing and fishing
by the Inuits, may enjoy a life tailored to the species. As a
former Danish colony, Greenland is still influenced heavily by the
rich Denmark. The Danish helped the poor inhabitants to build
cities, houses and schools; Denmark supports the nearly perfect
infrastructure financially.
Small settlements and fishing villages disappeared as professional
hunting declined in most parts of the country.
Not only are there vacant apartment blocks and small supermarkets,
but there is unemployment, violence, alcohol and the loss of
traditional structures; perhaps even favoured by the payment of
Danish welfare which many inhabitants receive.
But now back to the dogs and their misery which affected us just as
much as the breathtaking landscape with icebergs and
glaciers.
The nearly 6000 sled dogs in Ilulissat and other places in
Greenland suffer miserably during the summer months. Only during
the winter months they do get moved with sleds and get enough food;
otherwise, they are ignored and treated like garbage.
On the outskirts of the town there are numerous scattered dog
“parking lots” provided to the dog-owners by the city. These
unsanitary places are covered with droppings and urine. A pack of
dogs often consists of up to 20 animals. Two or three dogs are
restrained by steel chains - often cutting them deeply into their
neck. One can imagine that pain inflicted upon the dogs by tangling
themselves, hanging one another and fighting for the few food
remains.
The sled dog’s teeth are knocked out with a hammer by the owner to
prevent them from biting through the chains.
Bild Titel eingeben
One wonders if this treatment is considered humane since there are
no documented cases of animal maltreatment such as chaining by the
Inuits.
Many sled-dog teams are abandoned in the dirtiest places such as
cold rocks near the icy ocean water, between special refuse, car
wrecks, sewage pipes, kerosene barrels and rubble. Most live
without a kennel, wood plank, or other shelters.
The emaciated mother dogs give birth to their puppies in wet and
frosty earth holes with little chance of survival for the puppies
since a virus is spreading at present.
The surviving puppies are often abused, tortured and kidnapped by
children with pure arbitrary. The chained mother usually has no
chance to defend her puppies or to get them back.
We found a half dead, 5 weeks-old, baby dog on the street which was
abused to the brink of death. Children had played football
utilising the puppy as the ball.
When we brought it to the local police-station, we were asked in
surprise why we hadn’t beaten the puppy to death. Later the owners
of the abused puppy were found.
With only a few weeks the puppies are separated from their mothers.
They are fed but abandoned in sheds. It is devastating hearing the
whimper of the puppies, especially in this important developing
stage. It’s also heartbreaking for the mothers who once again
cannot help their puppies in this situation.
Most of the adult dogs are fed every 2-3 days with a few fish
wastes and seal meat which makes it hard enough for them to
survive.
The local fish factory previously delivered fish waste for free to
the dogs until this part of the fish industry closed in 2005. 1900
dogs died at that time.
The puppies and young dogs are fed with dry food (20 kg of Royal
Canin costs about 35,--€) until they are chained at the age of six
months. Than the misery begins again until the dogs reach a life
expectancy of approximately 6 years and they are being disposed in
which way ever.
We discovered a dog placed at the curb side for garbage
removal…
All these underfed, scabby, apathetic, resigned dogs were very kind
and thankful for every gentle stroke and loving word given during
our daily, long walks although many show no drive to live anymore.
None showed us any aggression, which is very often said about them
to justify the barbaric treatment.
Even in one of the most expensive hotels in Ilulissat where Mrs.
Merkel gave some interviews on the terrace, the dog-packs were kept
the same way. The only improvement is that they are fed regularly
and they have a wooden shelter. Mrs Merkel certainly had to notice
the dogs because she stood only a few meters away from them.
In the long run, these dogs could certainly benefit from any small
assistance allowing a fighting chance of survival.
It should be possible for the Government of Greenland and Denmark
to draft animal- and human laws establishing humane treatment and
consequences for violating these laws.
To set an example for the benefit of the Greenland sled dogs, we
ask all animal friends to please support this concern and sign the
petition on the following link.
www.ipetitions.com/petition/GreenlandSledDogs/
Therefore please sign the petition at the end of the text.
The dog's have no voice. It's up too us to be there
voice.