A new investigation has exposed the horrific cruelty and neglect suffered by champion sled dogs who once raced in the brutal Iditarod event in Alaska.
Heartbreaking footage and audio captured by a PETA eyewitness working in the industry within the last year reveals numerous stories of abuse.
Former Iditarod champion John Baker has competed in the race 22 times, raking in more than $600,000 at the expense of the dogs in his care. The kennel where he keeps the dogs is hellish; dozens of animals are tethered by metal chains on the snowy ground, with only broken boxes for shelter — if they’re lucky.
In a place where the wind chill can reach minus 19 degrees Fahrenheit, these dogs are separated from their social packs and pace endlessly, wearing circles in the icy ground.
The investigation discovered numerous tragic cases of neglected dogs suffering from physical and mental distress.
Former lead dog Snickers, once a celebrated champion, is now chained up outside in freezing conditions, isolated and suffering from painful arthritis with no veterinary care or comfort. Baker himself acknowledged on video that she was in a lot of pain and needed to be “put out of her misery.” The reason he hasn’t helped her? He can’t find a good place to bury her body.
Birch received a devastating spinal cord injury when she was just a puppy, leaving her hind legs paralyzed. She must drag her body across the icy ground to access her meager shelter. Baker refuses to seek veterinary attention for her because he is afraid people would assume they are too hard on the dogs.
In a different kennel owned by three-time Iditarod champion Mitch Seavey, dogs have raw and bleeding paw pads from the tough ice they are forced to pace on day after day. One dog named Captain had pus-filled wounds on his neck, caused by the friction of his collar as he circled on a leash. Again, no veterinary attention was provided for these painful ailments.
The Iditarod is an annual sled dog event that covers around 1,000 miles of unforgiving Alaskan terrain. Competitors, or “mushers,” push the teams of dogs for at least eight days in the effort to win the prize money.
While the mushers are hailed as heroes and treated like local celebrities, their dogs are a side note. Running 100 miles every day pulling heavy sleds through some of the roughest terrain and most brutal weather on the planet, it is them who do the hardest work.
The deaths, health issues, and suffering of these dogs during training and racing are well documented.
In this most recent exposé, Baker allowed a dog who was tied to a truck to be dragged for 500 meters along the icy ground as punishment for running too slowly during training. Similar treatment was doled out to a dog who stopped to defecate, with Baker saying it’s “better to have a dead dog than a dog who slows down the team.”
Lead dog Pilot, who helped Seavey reach victory in 2017, was excluded from the race the following year due to a tendon injury. He was rerun in 2019 and dropped for the same problem. Instead of getting medical attention, Pilot was abandoned back at the kennel.
The list of incidents goes on, but what’s clear is that the Iditarod — hailed as “The Last Great Race on Earth” — is, in fact, the cruelest race on earth.
Libertação animal ainda q tardia.
We are angry about this dreadful treatment of these poor dogs. Can,t something be done to confiscate them?
Can someone please get snickers away from that nasty man.lets all boycott that disgusting itarod race.
Let’s free all of those dogs and get them to a warm home with people to love them.
BAN SLED DOG RACES.!!
This abuser is now lounging in warmth and comfort of his home, languishing amongst the winnings this poor dog and the other dogs earned and they are forgotten about to suffer in pain and misery.
This torturous, abusive event has to be stopped and this poor dog and all others have to be rescued and the freak responsible for all the dogs abuses have to be held accountable.
This Son of a Bitch needs to be put in jail for a long time, what is wrong with the legal system. He is an A-hole and needs to be tied with a chain to a tree and left out in the same weather as poor Snickers and Birch. I want this clown crucified as soon as possible.
I want this Son of a Bitch to be put in jail, what the hell is wrong with the legal system? Stop this A-hole, he is a dick and should be tied up with a chain in the worst weather we can find.
Put a stop to animal cruelty. How would you people like to chained outside ,in the cold.no suitably shelter? You are made to run 150 miles over the ice and snow in below zero winter weathers. Stop the Alaska Iderroud! Stop the animal abuse. How can you live with yourself?
The last great race on earth????????Disgraceful…..Sheer torture for these dogs.. It has to stop.
Please send all the replies to the Alaskan Parliament. Otherwise nothing will be done to stop this torturous activity for dogs just for the gratification of a few silly men!
THESE POS ASSHOLE “MEN” SHOULD JUST DIE!! THE WORLD WOULD BE A BETTER PLACE!! are these particular dogs still not saved after all this reporting???
Were these assholes charged with abuse and cruelty to these dogs?
I second that! We all need to contact the Alaskan Embassy.
Pretty sad people are. Justice needs to be served to the fullest. Action needs to start happening now. So people will see what will happen. Start setting examples now!
I used to think Alaskans were better than most. This cruelty is beyond measure. Where the State Troopers advised? Were the dogs removed and given sanctuary?
I used to enjoy the Iditerod– until I learned how many of the dogs are treated (I should say mistreated). This guy didn’t deserve to win. In fact he and others like him should not be allowed to participate. Obviously, he doesn’t care that the dogs who won the race (or trained relentlessly) are responsible for his ill-gotten victory. The dogs are not machines; they are living beings who do not deserve such abuse and cruelty.
In this day and age there are anti inflammatory meds for dogs with arthritis. Hell, there are even cheap herbal treatments such as ginger, tumeric, fish oil, devils claw, MSN, senior mobility food from royal canin, etc The list is extensive! Not getting the dogs vet care, that win you money, is as disgusting as it gets! Hey thanks for the money dogs! Now feel free to suffer and die for all I care! I wish they’d do away with this useless torturous barbaric race. I’ll sign each & every petition to stop it!
PLEASE PUT THE 2 S.O.B. IN HUMANE BASTARDS IN JAIL. PLEASE STOP THE CRUEL INHUMANE RACES. THESE POOR INNOCENT ANIMALS ARE BEING ABUSED BY THESE MEN THAT ARE WORTHLESS & NOT HUMAN BEINGS . PLEASE STOP THIS RIGHT NOW.!I HOPE THESE 2 S.O.B.’S HAVE A HEART ATTACK & GO THROUGH SO MUCH PAIN 3 X’S WHAT THEY HAVE PUT THESE DOGS THROUGH AS THESE BEAUTIFUL ANIMALS ARE BEING ABUSED THROUGH THIS INHUIMANE RACING FOR NO REASON & THE BASTARDS ARE MAKING MONEY WITH THESE POOR LONEY SICK DOGS THAT ARE NOT EVEN GIVIEN LOVE, ATTENTION OR AFFECTION.
THESE DOGS SHOULD HAVE A WARM HOME & A VETANARIAN 24- 7 AND THESE DOGS SHOULD ALL HAVE BEDS WITH BLANKETS & 24 HRS. FOOD & WATER HAVE A DECENT BURIAL OR CREMATIONS. THEY SHOULD ALSO HAVE A PET CEMETARY FOR THEM TO BE ACKNOWLEDGED OF WHAT THEY STOOD FOR. INSTEAD
THESE F BASTARDS INHUMANELY PUT THESE DOGS THROUGH THESE TORCHIOUS IN HUMANE PAIN. I HOPE THESE PEOPLE THAT DO THESE RACES & PUT THESE INNOCENT BEAUTIFUL ANIMALS THROUGH. THAT THESE 2 SCUMBAGS IDIOTS & MORONS INDURE 3X’S THE PAIN THEY ARE PUTTING ON THE BEAUTIFUL DOGS ALL JUST AS MUCH AS THESE POOR DOGS HAVE BEEN PUT THROUGH.
FOR THE PERSON (S) THAT TOOK THIS VIDEO ( WHY DIDN’T YOU CUT THE CHAINS & PUT THEM IN WARM TRUCK & WHY DID YOU NOT HELP THESE ANIMALS ? WHY WOULD YOU “NOT HELP THESE DOGS & TAKE THEM TO A SHELTER / RESCUE & REPORT THESE 2 PEOPLE. HOW DO YOU LIVE WITH YOURSELF DAY BY DAY KNOWING THESE DOGS ARE IN PAIN, SUFFERING & CRYING ! HOW & WHY DID YOU NOT HELP THEM?????
these are not men they are greedy selfish low life morons ! thats ok cause now the world knows what scumbags they are . we need to find out who sponsors these pos .
Baker and Seavey should be thrown in Jail! That’s animal cruelty and they should not be allowed to get away with it! Put an END to these races! It’s Cruel and unnecessary! Maybe all the racing dogs could crash the racers out in the freezing ice and leave them there. Shame on those racers! They don’t EVEN deserve those beautiful dogs.
I agree with all the comments. I hope something now will be done to save these poor dogs from their torture and imprisonment!
Shut down Itidarod kennels. Jail for criminals who have tortured these defenseless creatures. We can rescue them all and get them homes. I can sign up for one! Thank you for your advocacy,
Sub Human piece of crap. Do not forget that. These are Sub Human pieces of crap. These/They are the disgusting, non empathetic, miserable bags of rotting meat & water you call Iditarod human participants. F U rotting bags of flesh water. You are mentally challenged & diseased. If there is any love on this planet, I hope that the law can be formed/enacted to finally shut down this stupid, idiotic spectacle. Only people who are unintelligent, vicious & downright disgusting would support this hell on earth event. These dogs must be saved. No more must suffer & perish at the hands of Sub Humans!!
These awful sub-humans need to be prosecuted and the same treatment dished out to them to let them feel the pain they have put these poor animals through.
This person needs to be punished for what he did to this innocent animals he needs to go to jail
What this world needs is “LOVE”!❤️❤️❤️🙏🏼🙏🏼Too much corruption n animals suffer cuz of it!! 😢😢😢😡😡
These mushers are disgusting! I would say disgusting humans, but they have no soul. I used to think they treated their dogs well and loved them, but the more I read, the more I realize the Iditarod needs to be stopped and these poor dogs taken to a shelter or sanctuary where they will actually be cared for instead of abused and denied veterinary care. Why doesn’t the state or the aspca step in and rescue these poor, abused dogs. Are the peta videos not enough proof?
So now that everyone is well aware of the problem what will they do with the findings of these investigations? Anything?
What a magnificent couple and so heartening to lean about this absolute dedication!
I completely agree with all the comments from people you have posted especially the last one!
This abuse to these sled dogs has gone on for YEARS……so why has it not been stopped? Please do whatever can be done to find good homes for these dogs and these sled dog races really do need to be stopped, the dog owners heavily fined ( they can afford it, and jailed….
This abuse to these sled dogs has gone on for YEARS……so why has it not been stopped? Please do whatever can be done to find good homes for these dogs and these sled dog races really do need to be stopped, the dog owners heavily fined ( they can afford it, and jailed….
Please help these poor dogs and remove them from their cruel and heartless owners!
It is disgusting how the media glorifies this dog cruelty every year!
I’d rather not comment than make one “peaceful and family friendly”
Inadmissible!
I have always hated the Iditarod races. After hearing how the trainers treat their dogs before during and after the races. It should be called Idiotrod.
Rot in hell
Bastard rot in hell !
Anyone surprised? The Iditarod is all about the mushers’ egos, not the dogs’ well-being. Shut the ugly spectacle down!
Why is the Iditarod even still happening? It’s cruel and archaic and should end.
This is absolutely shameful and further proof that the World’s Cruelest Race needs to end. Period.
This dogs should be treated with humanity and decency not left to rot in the cold!this race should be stopped or regulations put forth to make it more humane.the people who mistreat these champions need to be sanctioned and deprived of thier liberty,and from owning or caring for any animals….I pray conditions improve for these champion sleds dogs…they deserve much better!!!!
The thought of those poor dogs left in such dreadful conditions after they have given their all is shameful and proves that this hellish race must be ended once and for all. Those monsters should be given a similar experience then abandoned in the snow.
Es wird Zeit dass Menschen die die Tiere Gottes endlich in Ruhe lassen sollen ….diese Bastarde sollen alle mit dem Tode bestraft werden
Can you really get any more macho then sitting on the back of a sled and running a team of dogs until death and then disposing of them like they were garbage. How much money would it take to watch a team of these pieces of shit Run in the snow until they are dead
I pray that justice will make them pay for eternity in pain and suffering.
What a terrible tragedy. This awful event must be stopped. I cannot find words to adequately express my outrage and sorrow at what I have seen on the video. These people should be horsewhipped to within an inch of their lives. The authorities have just got to do something about this. It stands as a burning shame to Alaska.
Please could you let me know what is being done to stop this cruelty to sleigh dogs? Thank you.
Please could you tell me what is being done to stop this cruelty? Thank you.
I would love to see information in your newsletters that tells us if the people who are abusing these dogs so badly are arrested and made to pay for their heartless crimes, and if the dogs are rescued. The thought of them just being left in those horrific conditions tears my heart out. Please sent updates with the articles.