ANCHORAGE, Alaska (KTUU) – A group from People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) protested at the ceremonial start of Iditarod in Anchorage on Saturday, protesting the race.
Protesters were also met by counter protests from at least one individual, or from passerby and Iditarod participants. PETA protesters held signs in the shape of tombstones and stuffed dogs meant to look dead to highlight the deaths of three dogs in the previous year’s race.
“PETA would like to see the Iditarod evolve to leave the dogs out of it,” said John Di Leonardo, an anthrozoologist with PETA. “We would like to see the race evolve to be feats of human endeavor or maybe a race with snow machines, but there’s no reason to have these dogs who cannot consent be running to their deaths. I think this is the 21st century, and dogs deserve better, and America deserves better. Alaska deserves better than a race that kills dogs.”
Robert Zeigler was also present at the race starting line in opposition to the PETA protesters.
“If they’re going to spend millions of dollars with PETA, maybe PETA should work with what they’re trying to be against and find a way to, like anybody, work with somebody,” said Ziegler. “See, they could be supplying fencing, pens for these people, instead of making such a big deal about it because of mushers not being able to afford caging and stuff like that, these people can afford it.”
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