Volunteers offer a sample of the Iditarod's worst job

March 14, 2010

Iditarod canine drug tester Emma Cantor says testers volunteer not just to work on the trail, but specifically to collect urine samples from dogs. (Jonathan Hartford/KTUU-DT)

by Jason Lamb
Saturday, March 13, 2010

UNALAKLEET, Alaska -- If the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race had a show featuring dirty jobs, there's at least one job on the trail that might qualify. We met a duo this week who actually volunteered for this very important yet somewhat disgusting job.

Ever sit at work and think just how much you hate your job? Well, next time you do so, just think of Iditarod volunteers Emma Cantor and Maureen Chrysler, who say their job is the worst one possible.

"We're just going to get him up, we're going to take him out and we're going to walk him a little bit," said Iditarod drug tester Emma Cantor.

"Actually, we're collecting urine from the dogs for drug testing," Chrysler explained.

Cantor and Chrysler help carry out the testing that's gone on during the Iditarod since 1992. This week, they volunteered to show how they did their job. It's enough to make any dog blush.

"Gooood dog," Cantor told a dog while it filled a cup with an urine sample.

"It's kind of like the police on the corner," Chrysler said. "You're not going to speed if you see the police parked on the corner type thing."

"Yeah, the drug testing team," Cantor said. "We all volunteer for the drug testing team -- we're not just general volunteers."

Of course, there's the next logical question: why volunteer for this?

"It's a fun thing to do," Cantor said. "You get to come into the towns and hang out with the dogs. You get to talk to the mushers, it's fun."

It's so fun they even asked me to get in on it.

"Really? Do you want to catch one? To say you've helped?" Chrysler asked. "Yes -- we just want to see if you've learned anything."

OK, guys -- I just want to leave it to the professionals. After a quick handoff the samples are off to a testing facility, while Cantor and Chrysler are off working a job they say they'd gladly do any day of the week.

Chrysler says the drug testers try and stay out of the mushers' way as much as possible, trying to schedule convenient times for the dogs to do their business so they can collect it.

Contact Jason Lamb at jlamb@ktuu.com and follow @KTUUSports on Twitter.

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