– They are unable to follow their own regulations, claims Jahnsen. The waves have run high and the insults have been hailed in the Norwegian dog walking community in recent weeks. The background is that seven dog handlers filed a complaint against this year’s winner of the Finnmark race, Thomas Wærner. Wærner himself has rejected all accusations that he drove with lame dogs. He was acquitted by the sanctions committee of the Norwegian Dog Handlers’ Association. The committee also did not attach importance to the accusations of indecent behavior from Wærner and his aide. But the acquittal has not silenced the criticism. On the contrary, it confirms that key leaders in the sport do not take animal welfare seriously, says Petter Jahnsen. – I think that individuals in both Finnmarksløpet and the Hundekjørerforbundet should take their hats and go, says Jahnsen to news. Thomas Wærner was unanimously acquitted of all charges, but that has not calmed down the dog walking community. Photo: Hanne Wilhelms / news Wanted to take it internally Niklas Rogne was one of the seven dog walkers who stood behind the complaint. He believes that the debate has subsequently become too personal-focused against Thomas Wærner. The complaint indicates that the judges and veterinarians were present, but did not intervene against lame dogs. Thus, it is to a large extent Finnmarksløpet, and later the Hundekjørerforbundet, which have failed in the case, says Rogne. – I have never wanted to take this to the press or the media. I think we could sort this out internally, and that’s what we tried in the first place. But we won’t get anywhere by taking it internally, says Rogne. Jahnsen says that both the association and Finnmarksløpet trained the cases that were raised. – Three and a half months passed, and we received no response from the sanctions committee before news made a case on the Norwegian Food Safety Authority’s report, sir Jahnsen. The report from the Norwegian Food Safety Authority (referred to here) expresses the same concern as the dog runners: That there do not seem to be any competent leaders in the race who make clear decisions when a dog appears to be limping. Niklas Rogne from the start in this year’s Finnmark race. He is unsure whether he wants to participate next year. Photo: Hanne Wilhelms / news Inhabile Petter Jahnsen believes that the same people who were complained about have been used as witnesses to the truth that everything was in order. The dog handlers who complained attached seven videos as evidence. But the very fact that veterinarians and judges were present and assessed the dogs indicates that there was no breach of the rules, writes the sanctions committee. At the same time, the chief veterinarian admitted that there were lame dogs out of the checkpoints in an interview with Hello Musher. Afterwards, three veterinarians examined the seven videos. One of them on behalf of the dog walkers who complained, two others on behalf of VG, who wrote a comprehensive case about the dispute. All three vets come to the conclusion that there were lame dogs that should have been taken out of the race. Jahnsen believes that the management of Finnmarksløpet responds evasively to the criticism on its website. – They are pushing an unclear set of regulations in front of them. The answer can basically be interpreted like this. For us participants, the regulations appear to be good and easy to understand. The dogs are at risk when the regulations for animal welfare are not followed, says dog walker Niklas Rogne. Photo: Knut-Sverre Horn, news – A representative of the dog handlers’ association went very far in a conversation to suggest that it is we who warn about violations of animal welfare regulations, which are now in the process of destroying the sport. There is an extreme reluctance to clean this up, clearly, says Jahnsen. – What do you imagine will happen? – What should have happened was that someone who is obviously neither capable nor has any interest in following their own regulations, or in adapting to new times, must take their hat and go. Jahnsen will not name who he thinks should go out. Niklas Rogne also believes there is a need for changes in management. – The sport is coming up and coming, but I’m not sure if the surrounding apparatus is ready for it. Birgit Haugland in Finnmarksløpet is not satisfied with having received criticism, but says they are well on track to correct the errors that have been pointed out. Photo: Hanne Bernhardsen Nordvåg / news – Shall improve us Birgit Haugland is the general manager of Finnmarksløpet. She comments on the statement as follows in an e-mail to news: “We have great confidence in our officials. Of course, we are not satisfied when we receive an order from the Norwegian Food Safety Authority. The goal is always to get a thumbs up on everything. Through good cooperation with the NHF and the Norwegian Food Safety Authority, we will improve what they ask of us in good time by the deadline that has been set.” Frode Flathagen, president of the Norwegian Dog Drivers’ Association, replies that he does not want to comment on the management either in the association or in the Finnmarksløpet in the media. Flathagen also says that the complaints are dealt with as they should be. He emphasizes that the union kept the seven complainants anonymous, and that there are others who have shared the documents with the media. – NHF takes work with animal welfare very seriously, writes Flathagen. He points to the fact that they have drawn up new rules for long-distance dog races, which will now go out for consultation. Cancer tumor The dog walkers who complained about Wærner have turned large parts of the environment against them. The veteran Robert Sørlie believed they ran a smear campaign against Wærner. A key person in the community has referred to them as a cancerous tumor. Illustration: Facsimile from Facebook – I don’t let myself be intimidated. Although people call us cancerous tumors and one with the other. I really care very little about it. But the well-being of going on a run will probably be significantly less, says Jahnsen. Both Rogne and Jahnsen believe that there was discrimination against the runners in this year’s Finnmark Run, and are unsure whether they will participate next year. – It costs me NOK 100,000, says Jahnsen. – Then I have to know that I am competing on the same terms as everyone else. I haven’t done that this year.
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Requests the management of Finnmarksløpet and the Hundekjørerforbundet to resign after a dispute over animal welfare – news Troms and Finnmark
