Greenland denounces dog abuse

Critical e-mails from more than 20 countries have bombarded the Greenland government since the Danish newspaper Ekstrabladet featured a story about neglected and abused dogs in the community of Ilulissat early in February.

Two of the mistreated dogs appeared to be strangled.

“We have received e-mails from countries in Europe, in North, Central and South America, and in Asia,” said Siverth K. Heilmann, Greenland’s minister of industry. “Pressure from the outside world is increasing and members of the European Parliament have begun to receive protest e-mails. This development is worrying.”

The Greenland government’s official web site says “the Government of Greenland recognizes the extreme gravity of the situation” and notes Greenland laws are in place to prevent and punish cruelty to animals.

“Neglect and abuse of sled dogs should under no circumstances take place. It amounts to animal cruelty and is illegal under current law. I will therefore write a letter to all mayors in the sled dog district encouraging them to come up with new measures that will put an end to the abuse of dogs,” Heilmann said.

Since the article detailing the dog abuse appeared, a new group called Soqutigisaqaqatigiit has been created in Ilulissat to improve conditions for the community’s sled dogs.

Heilmann himself has offered to participate in municipal meetings in regions where dog teaming is popular. He said he thinks that certain groups must change their attitude toward how sled dogs are kept because the bad press is damaging Greenland’s reputation.

“It is utterly unacceptable that two dogs have been found strangled in Ilulissat, especially with the current great focus on the problem of dog abuse. It is my impression that the majority of dog owners in Greenland take good care of their dogs, and it is unacceptable if a small number of cases of cruelty should ruin Greenland’s reputation,” he said.

To those who wrote e-mails, the Greenland government responded that the “Greenland Home Rule condemns all forms of abuse of sled dogs.”