The deaths of five dogs during just one week of the 2017 Iditarod brought the cruel event’s death toll to more than 150 dogs, not counting the innumerable others who have died each year leading up to the event while being kept on chains or who were killed simply because they didn’t make the cut. As more and more people learn about the suffering that dogs endure for the Iditarod, they’re making their voices heard. Now, following outreach from PETA, two companies proved that they’re listening, agreeing to cut ties with the deadly event. Both Guggenheim Partners and Wells Fargo have ended their sponsorship of the Iditarod, a welcome sign of changing public sentiment against the use (and abuse) of animals for cheap human entertainment.
PETA and people all over the world who care about dogs commend the compassionate decision made by these companies but recognize that there is still work to be done. Even though many major brands—including Costco, Maxwell House, Nestlé, Pizza Hut, Rite Aid, and Safeway—cut ties with the Iditarod years ago, others, like Coca-Cola, continue to sponsor the event, and they need to hear from you.
To learn more about how dogs suffer at the Iditarod, check out the riveting documentary, Sled Dogs, by director Fern Levitt, which throws open the curtain on the ugly, behind the scenes cruelty in the dog sledding industry.
What You Can Do
Until the Iditarod is canceled entirely or switches to using only willing, human cyclists, cross-country skiers, or snowmobilers, you can make a difference for the dogs who suffer on the trail. Please join PETA in urging Chrysler, State Farm, Coca-Cola, and others to end their sponsorship of this abusive race in which dogs are run to their deaths.
Then share this post with your friends, family, and social media followers. Let them know that there’s nothing “sporting” about animal abuse and that the decision to stop putting dogs’ lives at risk is long overdue.
