by Barb Taliaferro

Created on: February 09, 2009

The Iditarod Dog Sled Race has, in recent years, become a lightening rod for animal rights groups. The more popular the race has become outside of Alaska the stronger their opposition has become. These groups have staged protests, boycotted sponsors and demanded more regulation by animal welfare officers based on what they call cruel and inhumane treatment of the dogs before, during, and after the race.

Before the Race

Animal rights groups claim that the animals are kept in unhealthy and cramped quarters when not racing and that the sled drivers use cruel methods to train their dogs. Perhaps the driver's biggest offense, according to animal rights groups, is the manner in which they decrease the numbers of their dogs. Not every dog bred to pull a sled will have the speed, strength or intelligence to compete at the level of the Iditarod. Dogs that do not make the grade are routinely killed, not always in the most humane manners. Some drivers see bludgeoning or drowning as an acceptable means to get rid of unwanted dogs but most will have their veterinarian put them down. Regardless of how it is accomplished, the practice of killing dogs simply because you have no use for them infuriates many.

During the Race

Animal rights groups point to the conditions of the race itself as cruel. The dogs are driven for hours on end in frigid temperatures and what may be deplorable weather. They often suffer life threatening injuries which may go untreated for hours if there is not a checkpoint close by. Even though the animal rights groups fought for and won regulations requiring the presence of veterinarians at each checkpoint, the activists still do not see this as enough to protect the dogs. They argue that the drivers often do not stay in the checkpoints long enough for the vets to do a thorough examination of the dogs. since time is so short the vets usually take the word of the drivers as to what condition the dogs are in. Since the drivers are trying to finish the race as quickly as possible it seems as unlikely that they would voluntarily stop long enough for the vets to do their job.

After the Race

After the race has ended and all the spectators and inspectors have gone away the dog's lives are still in danger, argue the animal rights activists. Animals that were injured or developed illnesses during the race are often quickly and quietly put down. Those that survive the race and its aftermath must return to their cramped quarters where they are often pretty much left to themselves unless needed for breeding purposes or to help train inexperienced dogs for other races.

In recent years many corporate sponsors of the Iditarod Dog Sled Race have withdrawn their support because of the protests and boycotts organized by the animal rights groups. The activists see each of these withdrawals as a victory and it is their hope that if enough corporations withdraw their financial support then the Iditarod race organizers will not be financially able to continue the race.

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