Dachshund Races Risk Dogs’ Health; PETA Asks Sioux Falls Stampede to Stick to Helping Homeless Pound Puppies
For Immediate Release:
January 28, 2026
Contact:
Hannah Nelson 202-483-7382
Ahead of the Sioux Nation Pet Clinic Wiener Dog Races—in which dachshunds scrabble across the ice between periods of a Sioux Falls Stampede hockey game—PETA sent a letter today to the team’s President and CEO, Jim Olander, encouraging him to nix the spectacle. PETA notes that the race fuels demand for dachshunds, who are deliberately bred to have unnaturally elongated spines and extremely short legs that can lead to debilitating and painful physical problems—conditions that can be exacerbated by having them try to run across slippery surfaces. Instead, PETA suggests a night dedicated to promoting adoption from local animal shelters and swapping the Stampede’s annual temporary name change from the Fighting Weiner Dogs to the Sioux Falls Pucks for Paws.
“Dachshund races not only endanger these deliberately deformed dogs, but also skate over the chronic ailments they face as a result of their breeding,” says PETA Founder Ingrid Newkirk. “PETA is encouraging the Stampede Hockey Club to make a winning play for dogs by spotlighting those in desperate need of loving families.”
PETA—whose motto reads, in part, that “animals are not ours to use for entertainment or abuse in any way”—points out thatEvery Animal Is Someone and offers free Empathy Kits for people who need a lesson in kindness. For more information, please visit PETA.org or follow PETA on X, Facebook, or Instagram.
PETA’s letter to Olander follows.
January 28, 2026
Jim Olander
President and CEO
Sioux Falls Stampede Hockey Club
Dear Mr. Olander:
I’m writing on behalf of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals—PETA entities have more than 10.4 million members and supporters globally, including many thousands in South Dakota—with a request: Please consider swapping out the Sioux Nation Pet Clinic Wiener Dog Races and instead simply dedicate a night to promoting adoption from animal shelters and adoption groups. The team could continue the tradition of changing its name and jerseys for the game, so might we suggest the Sioux Falls Pucks for Paws? Here’s why we propose this: Not only are the bright lights, screaming fans, and loud noises that make hockey games exciting for fans stressful for small dogs, but dachshunds are also prone to back, hip, and leg injuries, so running them on slippery surfaces could exacerbate their conditions. Allow me to elaborate.
As you may know, solely to “conform” to a look, dachshunds are bred and even inbred to be malformed. Many experience chronic discomfort as a result. Their purposely elongated spines and extremely short legs cause around 25% of them to suffer from intervertebral disc disease, which can result in severe pain, ruptured disks, and spinal cord damage that causes partial paralysis. They are also prone to joint issues, such as elbow dysplasia and luxating patella (kneecaps that dislocate or pop out of place) and often suffer from chronic pain, swelling, lameness, and arthritis. Given these facts, it’s clear that running on ice isn’t a good idea for these particular dogs.
We, of course, understand that the event is meant to be lighthearted and fun, as well as designed to bring humans and dogs together; however, attendees may conclude that these dogs’ deformities are something to cheer for and may even be encouraged to purchase a dachshund. We hope you will reconsider this event; doing so would send a message of compassion and awareness.
Thank you for your consideration. We look forward to hearing from you.
Very truly yours,
Ingrid Newkirk
Founder
