Pregnant Dog’s Death on Iditarod Trail Prompts PETA Call for Investigation

For Immediate Release:
March 11, 2025

Contact:
David Perle 202-483-7382

This morning, PETA sent a letter to Colonel Maurice Hughes, Director of the Alaska State Troopers, urging him to launch an immediate criminal investigation into the death of Ventana, a pregnant four-year-old dog who collapsed and died during the Iditarod on Friday after being forced to run for more than 300 miles by musher Daniel Klein.

In the letter, PETA points out that negligently failing to care for an animal and causing their death violates Alaska’s cruelty-to-animals statute. Forcing a pregnant dog to race hundreds of miles to her death is not exempt from prosecution under the law despite carveouts for the dog sledding industry—and running a pregnant dog is prohibited even by the Iditarod’s rules.

“Instead of receiving the care she deserved, this young pregnant dog was forced to haul a sled hundreds of miles through biting winds and freezing temperatures until her exhausted body broke down,” says PETA Executive Vice President Tracy Reiman. “PETA is calling on Alaskan authorities to hold those responsible for this dog’s death accountable and urging Iditarod officials to halt the race before any more dogs pay with their lives.”

More than 150 dogs have died in the Iditarod since the event began, including three young dogs who collapsed and died on the trail last year. The 2024 Iditarod was 975 miles; this year’s race, rerouted due to insufficient snow, is approximately 1128 miles. So far, more than 130 dogs have been pulled from the trail due to illness, injury, or exhaustion—with hundreds of miles left to go for the remaining dogs.

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 Col. Hughes follows.

March 11, 2025

Colonel Maurice Hughes

Director

Alaska State Troopers

Re: Request for investigation into pregnant dog’s death

Dear Colonel Hughes:

I hope this email finds you well. I’m writing to request that your agency investigate the individuals responsible for the death of Ventana, a pregnant four-year-old dog who collapsed and died during the Iditarod on March 7. Ventana was raced by musher Daniel Klein of Eagle, Wisconsin. Klein was reportedly running dogs from Ryan Redington’s Knik kennel. Redington had reportedly borrowed her from Wade Marrs of Willow.

After being raced more than 300 miles, Ventana collapsed on the trail 8 miles outside of the Galena checkpoint, and attempts to revive her were unsuccessful. On March 8, Ventana’s gross necropsy revealed that she was pregnant. Ventana’s death appears to constitute a clear violation of Alaska’s cruelty-to-animals statute, AS § 11.61.140, which prohibits one from negligently failing to care for an animal and thereby causing that animal to die, among other things.

Forcing a pregnant dog to run hundreds of miles is not a “generally accepted dog mushing … practice” and is not exempt from prosecution, as otherwise provided for in AS § 11.61.140 (e). In fact, page 14 of the Iditarod’s Official 2025 Rules states: “A musher must have the team physicals performed by the veterinary staff at ITC Headquarters on Wednesday, February 26, or by another veterinarian with a current license in good standing, on or after Saturday, February 15, 2025. The following conditions will prohibit a dog from participating: seizures (epilepsy), syncope (fainting) and/or pregnancy.” (Emphasis added.)

PETA asks that your agency investigate Ventana’s death and file cruelty-to-animals charges against all responsible parties. Please let us know what we might do to assist you. Thank you for your consideration and the difficult work that you do.

Sincerely,

Colin Henstock

Associate Director of Project Strategy