Despite ongoing struggles with one of the most extreme animal rights groups in the world, the 54th running of the Iditarod remains on schedule and appears to be in better shape than recent years.
People For the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) has been a thorn in the side of the Iditarod for decades, with its attacks stemming from a fundamental belief that animals and humans are essentially the same. PETA’s website calls dogs, cats and other critters “non-human persons” and claims they hold equal value to humans. To believe otherwise is akin to racism, sexism or homophobia, the group claims.
In PETA’s view, the Iditarod exploits dogs, placing them in harm’s way for what the group considers to be “meaningless entertainment.”
For many Alaskans, however, the race links Alaska history, culture, geography and sports into a uniquely Alaskan experience that honors northern traditions.
The Iditarod website, notes that the organization cherishes dogs and conducts more than 10,000 veterinary exams prior to and during every race to ensure that animals are healthy and strong. This includes heart evaluations, in-race wellness checks, blood tests, physical exams performed by licensed veterinarians and mandatory deworming.Bottom of Form
“Alaska sled dogs are working dogs who are well-cared for and love doing their jobs, as they have done for centuries in Arctic climates,” the Iditarod website affirms. “The Iditarod is committed to celebrating these elite athletes.”
With 36 teams competing this year, the number of mushers is up slightly over 2025, when just 33 teams ran – matching the record low.
That is little solace to PETA, which not only opposes dog mushing but also rails against those who choose to eat eggs, drink milk, or keep goldfish as pets.
When it comes to the Iditarod, PETA has tried to destroy the race by publicly shaming its financial backers.
In 2021, it claimed victory when ExxonMobile announced it was dropping its 43-year sponsorship, which provided about $250,000 a year to the race. One year later, PETA took credit when Millennium Hotels and Resorts ended their three-decade sponsorship.
Over the years, PETA says it has successfully pressured dozens of other companies to drop their support. This includes Alaska Airlines, Baird Private Wealth Management, Coca-Cola, Jack Daniels, Wells Fargo, State Farm, Anchorage Chrysler, Costco, Maxwell House, Pizza Hut, Safeway and Nestlé.
More recently, however, the tide appears to have changed. Aside from some minor team sponsors, PETA’s website lists no new major “victories” or dropped sponsorships since about 2023.
PETA, however, still actively targets existing backers like Alaskan Brewing Co., Providence, Lynden, Northern Air Cargo and GCI – flooding their social media accounts, emails and inboxes with negative comments. Additionally, the group often stages dramatic protests at the start of the race, as it did last year.
On the positive side for the Iditarod, the Wildbirch Hotel (Anchorage’s new boutique lifestyle property) is the new official Anchorage Headquarters sponsor for 2026.
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With 36 teams competing this year, the number of mushers is up slightly over 2025, when just 33 teams ran – matching the record low.
Additionally, this year’s purse may be the highest in more than a decade. Thanks to several new sponsors, including a $100,000 contribution. from Norwegian billionaire Kjell Inge Røkke, the 2026 purse is expected to be north of $650,000 with an estimated $60,000 to $70,000 (or more) going to the winner.
Jessie Holmes won the 2025 Iditarod, winning $57,300 after crossing the finish in 10 days, 14 hours, 55 minutes, and 41 seconds. The fastest winning time, however, belongs to Dallas Seavey, who won the 2021 race in 7 days, 14 hours, 8 minutes and 57 seconds.
The 54th annual running of the Last Great Race will begin with the ceremonial start on March 7 in downtown Anchorage, starting at 10 a.m. The official competitive restart is slated for March 8 in Willow, where teams will depart in two-minute intervals, starting around 2 p.m.
Mushers will take the traditional Northern Route, which runs about 975 miles to the finish line in Nome. Depending on conditions and teams, the winner is expected to finish in 8-10 days.
For more information about the Iditarod, including live updates on the race, click here.
1 Comment
I would defy any of the ignorant PETA whiners to raise one of these dogs and NOT run them miles and miles and miles. A running sled dog is a happy sled dog, whereas those PETA folks don’t seem very happy about anything, at all.