Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race Results In No Dog Deaths
Written by Vegetarian Star on March 29th, 2010 in Animal Issues.
For the first time in over 20 years, the Iditarod Trail sled dog race ended with no dogs dying during the race.
“To stand there and watch that last team come in, I’ll tell you, is the highlight of my veterinarian career,” chief race veterinarian Stuart Nelson said. “I think it’s a pretty safe assumption that this is a first.”
Conditions that favored the well being of the dogs during the race this year include good trail conditions and low temperatures, since overheating is the biggest threat, according to Nelson.
“Typically our greatest concern is dogs that might overheat,” Nelson said. “So when you have a colder race, you can take that factor, typically, out of the equation.”
Nelson also said that he couldn’t remember any animals not dying since he first became involved with the race in 1986.
The last dog death resulted in an investigation after animal rights group People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals demanded it.
Still, no deaths doesn’t satisfy all advocates of the dogs in the race, like Margery Glickman, founder of the Sled Dog Action Coalition.
“If it’s true that there have been no dog deaths, I hope that remains the case for however long this race is run and I hope that they make other improvements,” Glickman told the Anchorage Daily News.
Glickman wants the race shortened and more rest breaks available.
About 40 volunteer veterinarians patrolled the trail at various checkpoints, checking the health of the dogs throughout the race.
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