Three Iditarod Mushers Punished For Sheltering Dogs Inside During A Massive Blizzard

Ever since it began, the Iditarod–which demands sled dogs race 100 miles a day in brutal conditions–has countered charges of animal cruelty.

But even while dogs are overworked, exhausted, and even die on the trail, organizers have failed to improve conditions for Alaska’s racing dogs, who are even excluded from the state’s usual animal cruelty laws.

Not surprisingly, this year’s race further underscored the Iditarod’s callous approach to animals.

Not only were about 250 dogs pulled off the trail, according to PETA, after showing signs of injury, illness, and exhaustion during 2022’s race, three mushers were actually fined for sheltering their dogs during a massive blizzard.

According to KXAN, the mushers were punished after letting their dogs sleep inside cabins during a blizzard that pummeled the trail with blinding white-out conditions and 70mph winds.

Organizers acknowledged that mushers “did the right thing for their dogs,” but unfortunately, doing “the right thing” for animals happens to violate Iditarod rules.

These rules apparently require that sled dogs always sleep outside during the 1,000-mile race across Alaska, no matter how cold, wet, windy, or stormy it may be outside.

These harsh penalties are the latest reminder that animal welfare doesn’t factor into Alaska’s sled dog tradition. According to KXAN, race organizers demoted two mushers and fined a third dog team $1,000 for breaking the Iditarod’s inhumane “rules.”

“Nothing makes it clearer that this death race must end than the fact that the Iditarod slapped mushers with a fine as punishment for acting to prevent dogs’ deaths,” PETA Executive Vice President Tracy Reiman said in a statement.

In fact, says Reiman, organizers have it backward. Rather than penalizing the mushers who let their dogs sleep inside, organizers should be punishing those who left their dogs outside during a massive blizzard. “Cruelty is baked into this deadly race, and it’s time for it to stop,” she said.

Some mushers rightly questioned the Iditarod’s decision, which organizers argued gave the sheltered dogs an unfair advantage. But mushers countered that the weather was so extreme and dangerous that they had no other choice.

“There was no doubt to me that my dogs sitting unprotected in these conditions could lead to death or deaths of dog(s),” one of the penalized mushers, Mille Porsild, reportedly wrote in an email to organizers.

Another argued that bringing her dogs inside was the best option given the raging storm outside.

“With no natural windbreaks or materials available to shelter them I made what I felt was the best choice for my dog’s welfare in that extreme situation,” Michelle Phillips posted on Facebook. The veteran dog musher also announced this would be her last Iditarod.

Please join us in demanding protection for Alaskan sled dogs. The Iditarod must find a way to move forward without making mushers choose between breaking the rules and putting animals’ lives in danger.