6 min read Sled Dogs Chained Outside For Summer Are Going 'Crazy From Boredom' This is where they live — even when it’s 100 degrees out 💔

It was nearly 100 degrees outside — but the dogs had no way to escape the sweltering heat. Out in a field with no shade coverage from trees, around 200 sled dogs stood pacing around in circles and barking endlessly. Chains around their necks only gave the dogs a few feet to pace before pulling them back in the opposite direction. Plastic barrels with a hole cut out of the sides were all they had for shelter, and would have surely been even hotter inside.

This was the scene earlier this month at Chocpaw Expeditions, a sled dog kennel in Ontario, Canada. The dogs are used for sled dog tours in the winter — but in the blistering summer heat, when there’s no snow or tourists, this is their reality. This video was filmed on July 4 during a period of record heat waves sweeping the region. Sled dog advocate and filmmaker Fern Levitt was concerned about how the dogs were faring in these conditions — and after driving three hours to check up on them, her fears were confirmed. “There had been warnings to keep our pets inside and if a dog was found in a parked car, the owner would be charged with animal cruelty,” Levitt told The Dodo. “Well, what about the sled dogs? It all seemed so hypocritical.”

The dogs at Chocpaw in early July | Fern Levitt

While she was taking some videos, an employee of the kennel approached Levitt, urging her to leave on the basis that she was trespassing on private property. “This is typical of the sled dog industry,” Levitt said. “The mushers call it the dogs' ‘rest period,’ which goes on from May to October where the dogs just sit there. They are going crazy from boredom.”

An overhead view of Chocpaw, as shown in the "Sled Dogs" film | Sled Dogs

Levitt has since reported the conditions to the Ontario SPCA, which says it has been to the property to conduct an inspection. While many dispute forcing dogs to live outdoors on chains, the Ontario SPCA Act allows it — as long as the dogs are given adequate shelter.

A dog at Chocpaw featured in the "Sled Dogs" film | Sled Dogs

“We are working with the owner to make improvements relating to shelter to address deficiencies,” Melissa Kosowan, acting associate director of communications for the OSPCA, told The Dodo. “Our investigation remains open as we work to ensure the dogs are receiving the care they require by law. The welfare of these dogs is our priority.” This isn’t the first time Levitt has filed animal welfare complaints against Chocpaw Expeditions. She first visited the kennel in 2010, and was devastated to see the dogs being kept outside in a muddy field on chains. Many were continuously pacing back and forth, which is a common sign of anxiety in stressed animals.

Dogs at Chocpaw during the "Sled Dogs" filming | Sled Dogs

She returned during filmings for her 2016 documentary "Sled Dogs", which investigates the often despondent lives of the dogs while they’re off the trail. Levitt hopes that continuing to show the harsh conditions the dogs face throughout the year will inspire people to push for stricter laws to protect them. Until then, she fears, the dogs’ lives aren’t getting much better.

More dogs from Chocpaw shown in the "Sled Dogs" film | Sled Dogs

“Their lives in the summer are a far cry from the ‘lovely’ pictures of the dogs pulling sleds in the snow in the winter,” Levitt said. “These companies must build shelters for the dogs so they are not exposed to the elements, and make sure there is enough staff on board so the dogs get proper care.”