| The Alaska Iditarod race held each year in March | | | | are also criticized for culling the dogs. They are |
| sparks controversy over the treatment of the dogs. | | | | accused of killing any puppies or dogs that do not |
| It is a popular event that is intended to | | | | meet the standard of a good race dog.Along the |
| commemorate Alaska's culture and heritage of | | | | race trail, there are around twenty checkpoints with |
| Alaskan Huskies pulling sleds through mountainous and | | | | a veterinarian on duty to provide medical care for |
| rough terrain. Mushing was a means of travel in | | | | the dogs. These checkpoints serve as rest areas for |
| Alaska in the early years with a team of sled dogs | | | | both the dogs and the musher. The dogs are fed and |
| pulling a sled with a driver on board.The route taken | | | | allowed to rest at these checkpoints and any dog |
| for the race is based on the year it is run. Even | | | | that is sick or injured is left off at the checkpoint.The |
| numbered years, the routes goes from Anchorage to | | | | veterinarians who care for the dogs at the |
| Ruby. This is the northern route. In uneven numbered | | | | checkpoints defend the treatment of the animals, |
| years, the route is run from Anchorage to Unalakleet, | | | | saying many untruths are told about the dogs running |
| the southern route. The distance of the race is | | | | themselves to death. They claim the number of dog |
| around 1,200 miles and is the longest dog sled race in | | | | deaths is normal when you consider you are talking |
| the world.The first Iditarod was held in 1973 and | | | | about 1,000 dogs, so three to five deaths out of |
| reportedly 15 to 19 dogs died during this race. It is | | | | 1,000 dogs is not an alarming figure. Kennels that |
| estimated that approximately 130 dogs have died | | | | house 1,000 dogs can expect around 3 deaths in a |
| since the early days of the race, when there was no | | | | two week period.Almost all mushers are members of |
| official count taken of the number of deaths. Thus, | | | | several animal care groups that promote responsible |
| the exact amount of dog deaths during the early | | | | care and humane treatment of the dogs. They say |
| years is not exactly known.The last ten years have | | | | the stories of dogs and whips could not be further |
| shown deaths resulting from strangulation in towlines, | | | | from the truth. They are out and out exaggerations |
| internal hemorrhaging, liver injury, heart failure and | | | | and cause protest from animal rights activists.Mushers |
| pneumonia. Also, included as a reason for some | | | | love their dogs and contend that the Alaskan Huskies' |
| deaths is a deterioration of the dog's muscles and | | | | instinct is to run and pull sleds. This is what they |
| organs during extreme exercise. There have been | | | | were bred for, the same as bird dogs who |
| incidences of racers kicking their dogs to death, | | | | instinctively hunt birds. The Huskies have been used |
| striking them with sharp objects and mushing the | | | | for generations in Alaska to pull sleds, so it is easy |
| dogs through dangerous deep water and ice.During | | | | for them, whereas it would be very difficult for |
| the race, dogs sustain injuries to the spine, bone | | | | some other breed of dog. Pulling a one ton sled from |
| fractures, sore paws, torn muscles, sore joints, | | | | a dead stop is what one Husky is capable of doing. |
| dehydration and diarrhea. About half the dogs who | | | | Endurance is the Husky's strong point.So, the battle |
| start the race are not able to make it to the finish | | | | between the mushers and the animal rights groups |
| line.In training the dogs for the race, it is reported | | | | continue, as does also the race itself. In the first race |
| some dogs are injured or die from the grueling paces | | | | in 1973, the prize money was $50,000. That figure |
| they are put through. The training is done in remote | | | | has risen to around $500,000 in recent year's races |
| areas of Alaska and many dogs are forced to pull | | | | and the race is scheduled to be run again next year |
| extremely heavy loads. The strain of pulling these | | | | in March, as always. |
| loads can cause hip and spine injuries.The mushers | | | | |