Alaska’s infamous Iditarod sled dog race faces calls for a criminal investigation after pregnant dog “run to death” in this year’s event
The annual race has long been criticized for the animal welfare of the dogs, with at least 155 dogs having died in the Iditarod since it began.
Alaska’s infamous Iditarod sled dog race is at the centre of calls for a criminal investigation after a pregnant dog was “run to death” during this year’s event.
The four-year-old female dog, known as Ventana, collapsed and died during the race on March 9. At the time of her death, Ventana had been forced to run for more than 300 miles by musher Daniel Klein.
As per race protocol, a necropsy was conducted and revealed that Ventana was pregnant at the time of her death.
The tragedy has once again highlighted the brutal nature of the race, with Ventana’s death adding to the figure of more than 150 dog deaths in the Iditarod since it began.
While the race has long faced criticism over dog deaths, injuries, and animal welfare concerns, Ventana’s death is particularly egregious due to her pregnancy, and as a result, is speculated to be a violation of state law.
Animal welfare group People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) said it has sent a personal letter to Colonel Maurice Hughes, the Director of the Alaska State Troopers, urging him to launch an immediate criminal investigation into the death of Ventana.
In the letter, PETA points out that negligently failing to care for an animal and causing their death violates Alaska’s cruelty-to-animals statute. According to the group, forcing a pregnant dog to race hundreds of miles to her death is not exempt from prosecution under the law despite carve outs for the dog sledding industry. It adds that even by Idiarod’s own rules, running a pregnant dog is prohibited.
Former veteran Iditarod champion Mitch Seavey kept dogs continuously chained to plastic barrels, at times with little to no dry straw. Some had run in circles for so long that their paw pads were worn down or raw and bleeding. Credit: PETA
“Instead of receiving the care she deserved, this young pregnant dog was forced to haul a sled hundreds of miles through biting winds and freezing temperatures until her exhausted body broke down,” says PETA Executive Vice President Tracy Reiman. “PETA is calling on Alaskan authorities to hold those responsible for this dog’s death accountable and urging Iditarod officials to halt the race before any more dogs pay with their lives.”
This year’s race was the longest in over a decade, running for an estimated 1,128 miles. In addition to the death of Ventana, other dogs were injured or suffered health complications, including Jett who collapsed on the trail and required emergency medical care, and Hank who reportedly fell through ice into a freezing river.
In total, this year’s race saw more than 180 dogs pulled off the trail due to exhaustion, illness, injury, or other causes.
But deaths and injuries are not an uncommon part of the Idiatord. Last year's event also made headlines after three dogs died during the race.
Protesters at the Iditarod. Credit: PETA
Animal welfare groups say it is not just the race itself that causes concern, as the welfare of dogs during the rest of the year when not racing has been flagged too. Once the race is over, the dogs can be kept in barren yards where most will be chained with just a few square feet in which to eat, sleep, and relieve themselves.
Health conditions among the sled dogs are common too, with research showing that many of them suffer stomach ulcers and more than 80 percent will likely sustain persistent lung damage.
The sustained controversy over the dogs welfare has led to public and industry pushback against the Iditarod, with companies including Alaska Airlines, Coca-Cola, Jack Daniel’s, and Chrysler among businesses that have dropped their sponsorship of the event.
The race is also said to be declining in popularity among long-time participants, according to PETA, which says this year’s race was tied for the smallest field of mushers in history.
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