For Immediate Release:
March 14, 2018
Contact:
David Perle 202-483-7382
Nome, Alaska – Below, please find a statement from PETA Executive Vice President Tracy Reiman in response to Joar Leifseth Ulsom winning the 2018 Iditarod this morning:
PETA protesters were on the scene as Joar Leifseth Ulsom and the poor ravaged dogs he forced to run more than 100 miles a day through biting winds, blinding snowstorms, and subzero temperatures crossed the finish line. At least 21 dogs from just the three leading teams were pulled out of this race, likely because they were too sick or injured to go on, requiring the remaining dogs to work even harder—and PETA is calling for the release of veterinary records of every dog removed from the race this year. It’s never been clearer that dogs forced to run in the Iditarod are suffering terribly and that 2018 must be the last year that they’re forced to run in this cruel money grab.
PETA’s motto reads, in part, that “animals are not ours to use for entertainment,” and more information about the campaign against the Iditarod is available on PETA’s website.
