Care of sled dogs is the focus of a new local group.

Frank Turner is the owner of Muktuk Kennels and long-time Yukon Quest musher who won the 1995 race.

He said in an interview this week the group of about 20 has had about three meetings this year.

Attending have been mushers like himself who have racing and/or commercial kennels along with those with smaller kennels, and representatives with the Dog Powered Sports Association of the Yukon.

Even those who don’t have dogs but are interested in the care of the animals have shown up.

The group wants to show and ensure sled dogs in the territory are treated humanely and are well-cared for.

“There’s a lot of support,” Turner said of the group.

The idea for a group focused on dog care at sled dog kennels in the territory has been discussed in the past.

Previously, the discussion had been based around being part of other, already-established organizations that weren’t focused specifically on dogs, he pointed out, and the plans were pushed to the back-burner.

Turner said having a separate group focused solely on dog care has allowed the initiative to gain more traction and move forward.

He acknowledged a recent documentary about sled dogs has been criticized for being casting mushers in a bad light.

That has prompted interest in the topic, with mushers wanting to highlight the humane treatment of their dogs.

Turner stressed the importance of dog care and the responsibility kennel owners have in taking on the proper care for the canines throughout their lives.

That includes providing proper nutrition, ensuring veterinary needs are met and offering quality daily care.

At his own kennel, retired sled dogs roam freely throughout the property alongside the younger sled dogs who take visitors out on tours and sled dog rides.

The focus of the group, he stressed, is not racing, tourist operations or recreational kennels in particular, but rather on the care of all sled dogs.

The group, he said, would promote good dog care through education, discussion as well as the possibility of a voluntary accreditation program. It would also work to inform the public of the effort that goes into dog care.

Turner was involved with the accreditation program that was developed in British Columbia. He said the Yukon could look to those standards in coming up with something here.

“We can adopt this for the Yukon,” he said.

There could also be work with veterinarians in the territory on the standards that would be looked at.

Down the road, should the accreditation program be developed, Turner envisions an annual renewal for kennel owners who want to get the accreditation.

A vet – who would not be the kennel’s regular veterinarian – would conduct the inspection.

“This would be the proof’s in the pudding,” Turner said of the inspection and accreditation. “Accreditation has to mean something.”

The accreditation program would give mushers the opportunity to meet set standards showing the care they are providing to their dogs.

Turner also noted that work will also have to happen with the Yukon government on any accreditation program that’s developed.

“I’m really excited,” he said.

While accreditation could come down the road, Turner said the focus now is getting the paperwork done to formally form a society under the territory’s Societies Act.

The group is expected to meet again in a couple of weeks as it works toward that.