USA: 'mushers love their dogs'

Dog-sled tour operators in the tight-knit mushing community of British Columbia have expressed outrage over the killings.

Several operators said they routinely adopt dogs from other companies, but were not asked to take any from Whistler in early 2010.

Tim Tedford, who runs dog-sled tours in the Big White area, near Kelowna, said: "That behaviour doesn't sound like a real musher. Most mushers love their dogs. That sounds more like an accountant to me. Most mushers would starve themselves before they'd ever neglect their dogs."

Following revelations of the slaughter, the Vancouver Humane Society has called for a ban on the dog-sled tour business.