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At 2009 Iditarod, Dog Deaths Stir Controversy

Jennifer Viegas, Discovery News

It's suspected that two other dogs, Grasshopper and Dizzy, died from hypothermia in -45 degree Fahrenheit temperatures. Musher Lou Packer, who owned the dogs, told the Anchorage Daily News that he felt ice forming under the skin of at least one dog before it died, but he said there was nothing he could do to help the animal.

St. George said this year's race was especially challenging because of the large number of "local ground storms, which are hard to forecast. When in these storms, it's like being sandblasted for eight to 12 miles."

He said "it's possible" that even more casualties might have occurred this year, were it not for a new high-tech tracking system that allowed officials to closely monitor the movements of all race participants.

Animal rights groups, however, question whether Alaska's animal cruelty laws were violated.

People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) sent a letter to the director of the Alaska State Troopers, Col. Audie Holloway, urging him "to launch a criminal investigation."

"The Iditarod is more than 1,000 miles of torment for these dogs," said Debbie Leahy, director of PETA.

Although authorities will continue to look into the precise cause of death for the dog deaths still under investigation, it is very unlikely that the mushers will be charged with a crime.

Only last year did Alaska make animal cruelty a felony. As it stands, an individual would have to be convicted of three instances of animal cruelty, abandonment or neglect before a felony charge could be made.

Representative Carl Gatto, however, is sponsoring a new bill that would strengthen Alaska's existing animal cruelty laws. It reads, in part, "HB138 makes knowingly and intentionally inflicting severe prolonged pain or suffering upon an animal a felony."

But the bill also bears a caveat; it "recognizes dog mushing as the sport it is."

Related Links:

Iditarod: The Toughest Race on Earth

Jennifer Viegas' Blog: Born Animal

The Official Site of the Iditarod

PETA Iditarod Page