Originally posted by WPRESTO No one anticipated the danger to the dogs, but there was unambiguous danger of imminent death if the serum was not delivered. Dogs (with no one thinking they might die) versus children who certainly would die if the medicine didn't get to them in time. Tough choice? Wrong choice?
Running dogs in -50.... ya, I think they might die. Maybe you want to call it death do to the incompetence of the drivers, so just dog slaughter instead of murder. I'm sure in their own words they didn't know the dogs would die. They'll tell you dogs with frozen lungs were running just like they did on a -10 day. They can tell you whatever they want. However, they are team drivers that killed their dogs. We're you really thinking they were just going to take responsibility and say "I knew they were losing strength but I just push them on anyway."
The truth is, they were so intent on this race thing, they just sacrificed their dogs. The well being of their dogs was not the foremost in their minds. Dogs died for their personal glory.
For me, having a dog team die should disqualify you from the race. After all, real northern folk know they are dependant on their teams and keep them in good shape to the best of their ability, and I would assume they would have learned to keep their teams alive in all weather. Southerners coming up just for a race have no reason to take care of their animals past the next dog change.