Iditarod
Written by John Downey on September 21, 2018
Dog Sled Racing
Dog sled racing may have been around for millenia in pre-Columbian America. Evidence of the activity was found in Siberia, dated back to 7800-8000 years ago. It was probably a casual activity up until 1850, when it became an organized event. Now, every winter, since 1973, a few humans, pulled by some specifically bred dogs, race their sleds in what has become known as the “Last Great Race”, the “Iditarod”, from a Native American word meaning, “a distant place”, mushing from Anchorage Alaska to Nome, Alaska, a 9 to 12 day journey.
And every year, hundreds of dogs are pulled off the Iditarod dog sled race trail because they either become ill, get injured, or just get too exhausted to go on. The dogs may suffer from bleeding stomach ulcers or incur stress fractures; more than 150 have died in the race, most commonly from aspiration pneumonia, caused by inhaling their own vomit. When they’re not being forced to race, they’re kept chained to dilapidated boxes or plastic barrels, left outside in subfreezing temperatures, and denied any companionship or even the opportunity to socialize with another dog.
Most of the Iditarod’s major sponsors - including ExxonMobil, Coca-Cola, Wells Fargo, and Alaska Airlines - have cut ties with it. No company should want their brand tied to the race’s growing controversy and cruelty. Please ask companies in your area to stop sponsoring this deadly animal-exploiting event.