Is The Iditarod Humane? Alaska Sled Dog Race Slammed For Animal Cruelty By Critics

The 2017 Iditarod sled dog race got underway in Alaska this week and with it came the usual dose of controversy. While enthusiasts love the race some critics have long suggested it can be cruel to the dogs involved.

Seventy-one teams of sled dogs, usually about 16 per squad, started from Fairbanks, Alaska, and will wind nearly 1,000 miles and eventually finish in Nome. The race started in 1973 but has recently become the regular subject of an animal cruelty debate.

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The People for Ethical Treatment of Animals, commonly called PETA, wrote on its website that at least 27 dogs have died in the Iditarod since 2004, including one last year and three the year prior. The race was the subject of a shocking incident last year when a man driving a snowmobile seemingly intentionally drove into two teams of dogs, killing one named Nash. In 2015 two dogs died on the trail while another got loose from his chain and was hit by a car.

Activists also pointed out that the race itself can be incredibly grueling for the dogs, which race for up to week sometimes covering 100 miles in a day. "Imagine running four marathons in a single day — and throw in biting winds, treacherous terrain, and freezing temperatures. Then do it all over again every day for up to seven more days," PETA wrote on its site.

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Iditarod organizers said the race goes to great lengths to take care of the dogs participating. Every dog is required to get checked for heart problems, is tested for blood issues and gets veterinary approval shortly before the race. The dogs are checked often by dozens of veterinarians along the trail during the race, as well.

Supporters also often noted that the dogs enjoy running. The Humane Society has said in prior years, for instance, that dog sledding as a practice is fine, while the conditions of the Iditarod itself were problematic.