The dark underbelly of dog sled racing in Alaska.

Every year as the snow begins to melt, the Fairbanks North Star Borough Animal Shelter experiences what has come to be known as "the spring husky dump."

"Mid-April: Taxes are due, and here come the huskies," said sled dog advocate Ronnie Rosenberg.

Rosenberg is just one of many in Fairbanks who spend countless hours year-round, on the Internet and phone, trying to find homes for unwanted sled dogs.

But every spring, after the major races in the state are finished and mushers, mostly those who weren't as successful as they would've liked, clean out their dog lots.

Dozens of sled dogs are brought in during the months of April and May and the majority are perfectly capable, working sled dogs, said Carol Kleckner, a volunteer husky trainer and shelter volunteer.

So far this spring, the shelter has reached its maximum at 25 huskies. In one week, three were put to death. Five were adopted, which is encouraging but it's very rare to have that many find homes in one week, said Sandy Klimaschesky, the lead animal tender at the shelter.

Sometimes because the shelter is so full, some dogs go right from the front door to be euthanized, she said.

I have written before about a practice that was used in the past, and truthfully may still be used today, called "culling" where a dog sled racer will drown the puppies that he believes are too scrawny to pull his sled. I saw this practice take place as a kid but am not certain that it takes place anymore. But still it speaks to how some dog sled racers view their dogs. They are not pets, they are engines to pull a sled, and if they cannot perform then they are of no use.