Outdoor Adventures Whistler is a fairly large and well known company. Their business supplies a hospitality service to locals and tourists alike which is dependent on a delivering a positive experience, and become a big part of someone's vacation experience. They're selling their reputation, and representing their city.
Big, bad things happen sometimes. How you deal with the situation that ensues is what what will define you.
I'm writing about the recent event of sled dogs that were euthanized by a Whistler dogsledding company (Howling Dog Tours Whistler Inc.) that, when faced with a slow business period following the Olympics, decided to lessen their financial burden of feeding and housing 100 of its 350 dogs. An employee was required to shoot and kill the dogs, the employee claimed post traumatic stress disorder, the accounts from the employee are very graphic and disturbing. At the time of the incident, Outdoor Adventures Whistler had investment in the company, but was operated by it's own general manager. The company is now fully operated by Outdoor Adventures Whistler.
On their website there are 4 statements issued. The general feeling I understand, is that Outdoor Adventures Whistler only recently became aware of the incident, and what measures it had taken to ensure the "good life" of the dogs as soon as it had taken over operations, that Howling Dog Tours Whistler Inc was a completely seperate entity, and complete attempted deniability of any previous events.
If it's the intention of the company to continue to operate any of it's other branches of activity, (ATV, snowmobiling, horseback riding...) they really should be giving interviews, blogging and doing more damage control than what's been done so far. Most people in light of the tragedy won't care if you were 10%, or 100% invested in the company and decisions at the time, because you are the representation here and now. Yes, it's VERY unpleasant to have have insults and negativity thrown at you, and to have to accept blame if it really wasn't your company's choice. (Although it's difficult to believe, when there is an investment resting in a company that a loss of 100 dogs wouldn't be questioned or missed.) But it's about accountability, and something like this will not go away anytime soon. In any situation no matter how one sided it may seem, you will hope there will be those that will give second chances and have an open mind, but only if there is someone to give the other side of the story and explain. It's worse (in my opinion) to do nothing but issue faceless statements denying any fault, and to let people get into a mob mentality and have rumors and speculation run rampant.
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