A new award-winning documentary exposes the shocking animal cruelty in the dogsledding industry.
Sled Dogs, directed by Fern Levitt, reveals abusive methods that mushers use in their quest to achieve victory in grueling races like the Iditarod, which has seen more than 150 dogs die since it began in 1973.
The documentary details how sled dogs are worked to exhaustion and injury, sometimes to the point of being too weak to eat or drink. More than 220 dogs were removed from the trail during last year’s Iditarod, according to the documentary.
Dogs also die during the off-season when they are deemed too slow or unfit to compete. Canines who do not perform to some handlers’ standards are considered unprofitable for tourism, and these “surplus dogs” are shot, bludgeoned, or abandoned. Treated like disposable commodities, those who kept alive are forced to live in freezing, deplorable conditions without adequate shelter, companionship, or veterinary care, the documentary shows.
One heartbreaking scene in Sled Dogs shows a pile of at least seven dead sled dogs that perished inside a shed in Alaska after their caretaker abandoned them.
The documentary unveils these sobering truths through interviews with former mushers, including sled-dog-handler-turned-activist Mike Crawford, and firsthand footage of the suffering these innocent animals endure.
Sled Dogs is now available on Plex and Amazon Prime Video.
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For the fault of people like this is the reason we are living through the pandemic. Justice for the innocent animals.
humans are becoming an evil race its disgusting that this behaviour hasn’t been stopped its about time it does police and authorities start butting in place animals cruelty laws anyone doing this sort of thing should be prison and a really big fine and banned from owning anymore animals if caught having anymore animals should be prison again for way longer then before and a much bigger fine
I apologize if my comment wasn’t family friendly, I will continue to sign petitions but refrain from ALL COMMENTS LADY JOEY
Stop the cruelty.
sledders have known how cruel this is for years,some ppl arent able to stop being cruel on their own…we have to help them
Stop animal cruelty now !!!
The Iditarod should have been stopped years ago. So happy this documentary shows what happens. Now how to stop it.
Whenever money and prizes are involved, animals suffer cruel and inhumane treatment.
STOP THE BRUTAL IDITEROD RACINGS THESE POOR DOGS ARE RACING PULLING A HEAVY SLED BECAUSE THEY ARE FORCED TO!!! ANY ANIMAL SPORT MUST END NOW!!!! HEFTY FINES FOR ANY ANIMAL ABUSER!
This needs to be brought to the desk of President Biden
Ce sont des brutes , il certainement beaucoup de progrès à faire , cela fait longtemps que j`avais vu cela , des pattes blessées , et des charniers je ne sais plus ou exactement! pitoyable. et on essaie de nous faire croire que c`est tellement fantastique pour ces chiens…….
Ce sont des brutes , il certainement beaucoup de progrès à faire , cela fait longtemps que j`avais vu cela , des pattes blessées , et des charniers je ne sais plus ou exactement! pitoyable. et on essaie de nous faire croire que c`est tellement fantastique pour ces chiens…….
There need to be laws in place to protect these poor animals. Until there is nothing will change. Barbaric societies!
So disgusting, these people are evil, sadistic and brain-dead. How can anyone abuse any animal like this. It needs to be stopped asap.
This brutal cruelty has gone on since the beginning of this type of exploitation. But since dogs are considered property, it’s LEGAL to treat them like TRASH(!), so the human predator can PROFIT. This quote addresses the truth: “In fact, if one person is unkind to an animal it is considered to be cruelty, but where a lot of people are unkind to animals, especially in the name of commerce, the cruelty is condoned and, once large sums of money are at stake, will be defended to the last by otherwise intelligent people.”–Ruth Harrison, Animal Machines.
This form of animal cruelty is a result of LAWS allowing and supporting human “winning addiction.” Animals WILL ALWAYS pay the price when the animal exploitation’s design goal is “winning.”
SAD SAD LIVES OF THESE MAGNIFICENT CREATURES. BUY A FREAKING 4-WHEELER. Sick people! This is 2021.
I suspected the dog-sled industry and sport of being a cruel. This is terrible news to hear that so many sled dogs are worked to exhaustion, killed, abandoned and frozen. The cruelty must be stopped, that means any of the sport, and tourism and anything else that is unnecessary. Their accommodation is also not good enough, some dogs left to sleep in the snow. What is also terrible is that many tv programmes, such as adventure programmes, show selfish climbers going up one mountain or other for their own satisfaction. Dogs are shown sleeping in the snow, travelling many miles and no mention of the cruelty that goes on. These climbers are selfish and only think of their own achievements, they don’t care about the dogs that are abused or the donkeys that fall off cliffs so that they can climb a mountain and leave rubbish, these ventures are not good or heroic, but selfish, cruel and also contribute towards the build up of rubbish.
This has gone on for way too long. It’s unfair on the fogs who have no say in their part. They should be pets not profit animals.
OMG!!! SUCH CRUELTY GOING ON!!! THIS MUST BE STOPPED!!!!!
please stop the cruel acts that are being committed to these poor animals.
Mahatna Ghandi was a very wise man. Animal cruelty must stop. Thank you for showing whst really goes on with these adorable huskies.
Ban it
The Iditarod needs to be cancelled forever.
Are thera some petitions or authorities to whom we can wrtie to stop this animal abuse?
Stop by the cruelty now !
How can these awful abusive ????? live with themselves? This is so abusive and unbelievable. I wish I could rescue all of them. Animals are angels giving us unconditional love and never asking much in return. When will this neglect and abuse end? SUCH A SHAME
How can these awful abusive ????? live with themselves? This is so abusive and unbelievable. I wish I could rescue all of them. Animals are angels giving us unconditional love and never asking much in return. When will this neglect and abuse end? SUCH A SHAME
People often look at me as if I have three eyeballs when I tell them how cruel The Iditarod is to the dogs. Everyone wants to believe that these dogs are treated so well & couldn’t be happier to endure such a lengthy race. I always ask them, “Would you want to run to the point of injury & exhaustion w/o having any say in the matter?” So many people have absolutely no clue what goes on behind the scenes. I hope this film does well in exposing the truth behind this absurd “sport”.
I love and salute the sled dogs. The owners whom I knew way back when, were terrific owners. Attending the races, Scotland, G.B., looked after their dogs and interacted with them on a concerned and loving basis. I helped on the ‘course’, checking them through on the various race events. The closing of the annual meeting, we could enjoy a hugely enjoyable ‘fun run’ excursion into the glorious Scottish forest. So many laughs, so many interactions, so much camaraderie plus the demonstrable loving interaction between the dogs and their owners.
It is with huge sadness and sorrow that I learn from the 2019 Iditerod event and the 2020/21 event. Aghast. I could not even face to check in to any of the details, being reduced to a towering anger at the 2018/19 exposures of cruelty and brutality. Competition gone rife. So sickening that I crushed atwhat is happening to this beautiful and loyal canine. Human beings, they spoil pretty much all thry touch.
This abominable cruelty I have not seen reported in the UK and Scottish husky dog associations / societies. As for the Iditerod – utterly beyond the pale.
I love my own great memories of fun, friendship and care I was a part of and deplore the Iditerod. VOMIT. Can only suggest, STOP the IDITEROD. STOP. Bring sanctions to bear on all sled dog owners who use these beautiful and loyal animals for their on selfish gain – to the horrific detriment of ‘care’ and ‘welfare’ of their abused animals. Grasp the nettle. STOP the rot. STOP the Iditerod. End of.
Horrible
Those poor sweet dogs. Trying so hard to please those men and women with only profit and glory on their minds. Pity we can’t introduce a law that say you will get the same treatment that you gave to an animal.