Ramy Brooks, who has twice finished second in the Iditarod, was disqualified in this year's race after abusing his dogs.

The 38-year-old Brooks hit each of his 10 dogs with a trail marking lathe, similar to a surveyor's stake, after two refused to get up and continue running on an ice field… Witnesses reported the incident to race officials. It happened on Tuesday near Golovin, about 90 miles (145 kilometers) from the end of the 1,100-mile (1,770-kilometer) sled dog race in Nome.

I just don't understand why the dogs would be so tired. They'd only been running for the last thousand miles.

You know what would make this problem go away? Some animal rights group getting indignant and acting high and mighty. If only such a group existed…

"I'm sure they're exhausted and sick of the whole thing," said Lisa Wathne, a spokeswoman for People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals. "When is enough going to be enough with this event? There is no way to do this humanely. No one who has any feelings for dogs should condone this event, or could possibly think it's acceptable."

Now that's the righteous indignation this post needed! Thanks, PETA! Why, I almost thought beating dogs was a bad thing 'til you assholes showed up.