In the early 1920’s, gold fever swept though the Last Frontier. A huge influx of settlers arrived in Alaska looking to strike it rich. Mountain passes, frozen rivers and dense forests stood between them and their riches. To conquer the harsh Alaskan bush sled dogs were put to use, pulling men and equipment deep into the unforgiving wild.
Those men and the dogs that carried them have become part of the history and identity of the state of Alaska today. The 1,100 mile Iditarod sled dog race carries on the history, pitting mushers and their dogs against some of the toughest terrain and weather in the world along the same trail followed by early Alaskans.
Sled dog racing has increased in popularity in the past few decades thanks in part to awareness created by races like the Iditarod. While the sport has a historical significance and a large following, animal rights advocates say there is more to sled dog racing than meets the eye.
No less than 142 dogs have died while racing in the Iditarod and countless others have been injured, many severely enough to warrant euthanasia, according to the Sled Dog Action Coalition (SDAC), a non-profit sled dog advocacy group operating in Alaska and Florida.
“It’s sickening, when you really think about it,” says Margery Glickman, director of the SDAC. “When it comes right down to it, we basically have a sport which is promoting the mistreatment of animals and nothing is ever said about it.”
Even though only 142 dogs have been confirmed dead as a result of the Iditarod many others go undocumented, says Glickman. Many dogs that do survive the grueling nearly two week journey are left with bloody paws, internal bleeding, broken bones and sores, according to the SDAC.
Each year, about 1,500 dogs start the race with a team average of 15. Of those, typically about one third are removed during the race, with the average team crossing the finish line with only 12 dogs, according to People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA). The most common injuries are bone, muscle or lung problems due to over-exertion according to PETA.
“Mushers raise dogs in order to race them and only to race them,” says Glickman. “They view them as expendable and replaceable, so despite what they may say, the well-being of the dogs really isn’t very important to many mushers.”
Mushers take a much different stance on the issue. Mushing can be an extremely taxing sport – mushers spend large amounts of time and money on their dogs, making them typically heavily invested in their dogs and equipment. Futhermore, Specific breeds are used such as Siberian Huskies and Alaskan Malamutes according to the Iditarod website. They are muscular dogs with high endurance and stamina; traditional sled dogs.
“I think I work hard to make sure my dogs are healthy,” says musher Anna Perry. “I spend a lot of time out there [with her dogs] just keeping them healthy and happy.”
Perry has been raising, training, and racing sled dogs for more than 10 years. It is a time and money consuming endevour, but well worth it, says Perry. The most important aspect of the sport is the health of her 10 Huskies, she says. She has regularly scheduled appointments with a veterinarian to have her pack checked.
“It’s real important to make sure they are healthy at all times,” she says. “When a dog is healthy, just like a human, he’s going to do a better job. So even if it’s just training, the dogs need to feel good.”
The sentiment is much the same from those in the animal medical field. All organized sled dog races, like the Iditarod, have a complete team of veterinarians on staff and a check point system to ensure that the dogs are being seen regularly during the course of the race.
The Iditarod has some of the most intensive medical care of any animal related sport in the world, according to the Iditarod website. Beginning with pre-race checkups, the dogs are checked at regular intervals of no more than 90 miles each during the race. A team of volunteer veterinarians from around the world takes part to ensure the well-being of the dogs, according to Stuart Nelson, head veterinarian of the Iditarod.
Though the well-being of the dogs is a priority of both veterinarians and race organizers, others point out that it isn’t enough because sled racing itself puts dogs in harms way.
“Just because they are being checked doesn’t mean they aren’t getting hurt,” says Adam Goldfarb, the Director of the Pets at Risk program for the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS). “The presence of all those vets tells you there must be a big need for them.”
The HSUS has been speaking out against sled dog racing for many years. While the organization does not have an official stance against dog sledding, the Pets at Risk program is concerned with the well-being of any animal used for labor purposes, says Goldfarb.
Many states have strong animal cruelty laws but they can be very ambiguous when it comes to sled dog racing, says Goldfarb.
“It’s hard to say if anything can legally be done about it at this point,” says Goldfarb. “I don’t know that any court has ever touched such a delicate topic.” Dogs on longer races, like the Iditarod, will spend nearly two weeks outside exposed to the elements, day and night. In 46 states, leaving an animal outside for an extended period of time in winter would land the owner an animal cruelty citation.
While no court case has even debated if the sport of sled dog racing is animal cruelty, many cases have come from abuse of the dogs while not racing. Some abuse cases have resulted in seizure of more than 100 dogs, says Goldfarb. “Sometimes, these dogs are treated like machines,” says Goldfarb. “And, sadly, some people don’t know how to properly care for them.”
As the start of the 2010 Iditarod race on March 6 quickly approaches the issue of dog welfare continues to raise questions. It is, however, unlikely that the sport will see any drastic changes anytime soon, says Goldfarb.
“I think with the history and popularity, especially in Alaska, sled dog racing isn’t going to change,” says Goldfarb. “All we can do is keep awareness high and make sure the dogs are safe and cared for.”
