Alaskans attending the multi-day festivities surrounding the start of the 54th annual Iditarod Sled Dog Race will be met by radical costumed animal rights activists who aim to cloud the family-friendly and uniquely Alaskan celebration with a so-called “specter of death.”
A smattering of activists associated with People For the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) will be on hand to try and frame the popular race as an unethical and deadly violation of animal rights.
“Specter of Death to Appear at Iditarod Banquet: PETA Out to Save Dogs From Being Killed” is the title of a recent alert sent out by PETA.
“Iditarod attendees will face the specter of death at this year’s race, as PETA supporters dressed as Grim Reapers and carrying scythes will converge on the Mushers Banquet on Thursday,” the March 2 email alert states.
The PETA demonstrations will occur at four events, including stops at the Wildbirch Hotel – the race’s official Anchorage headquarters – on Friday; the Iditarod’s Ceremonial Start in downtown Anchorage on Saturday; and the official restart in Willow on Sunday.
PETA claims “huge, scythe-bearing Grim Reapers will hover high over the crowd” during the protests.
The group has been a thorn in the side of the Iditarod for decades, with its attacks stemming from a fundamental belief that animals and humans have essentially the same value. PETA’s website calls dogs, cats and other critters “non-human persons” and asserts that humans are no more important than chickens or goldfish. To believe otherwise is akin to racism, sexism or homophobia, the group claims.
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PETA also explicitly states on their website that no animals should be consumed as food, and claims they are “unique, feeling individuals with their own wants and needs” rather than resources for human consumption. The group does, however, support lab-grown meat cultivated in petri dishes.
In PETA’s view, the Iditarod exploits dogs by placing them in harm’s way for what the group considers to be “meaningless entertainment.” They also allege that the dogs are forced to run the race, suffering injuries and even death.
Despite rigorous health and safety protocols for all Iditarod dogs, including veterinarian checks throughout the race, PETA continues to protest the race as exploitative.
“Death looms over the Iditarod as dogs are forced to run until their bodies break down,” says PETA President Tracy Reiman. “PETA’s Grim Reapers want this bloody race to end before a different Grim Reaper claims yet another dog’s life.”
14 Comments
When someone tells you who they are, believe them. These people don’t want you to be free. They don’t want you to eat. They want you dead and it is out in the open what their viewpoint is.
This. Marxism is death. All the time.
PETA needs to talk to the dogs. They love to race!
Would this include the ones who die and the ones who otherwise choke on their own vomit? How about the pregnant girl who was insanely forced to run 300 miles before she died?
Sled dog deaths are very rare and have gotten even rarer.
Choked on their own vomit? That sounds like me at Basic Training or half the fraternity freshman on a saturday
Shall we list all the humans that die doing the things they love?
If you’ve ever watched them come into a check point they are happy and pumped, living their best life
Go touch some grass and worry about something actually important
Very true!!
I hope they show up in Willow. It will be fun to watch.
I think I’d go, just so I could tangle with those idiots.
I honestly don’t think I have ever met a conservative dog musher. I’m not saying such an individual doesn’t exist, but so far I haven’t met one. I definitely haven’t met a conservative PETA member. So far, this looks like it could be a good thing. Just sayin’.
Andy Klingbiel – 1970’s libertarian sprint musher (co-worker)
Never thought of this though. Dog mushers as natural environmentalists?
It’s funny after looking at the picture and seeing 3 Karens dressed up as death.
The left is a coalition of groups that celebrate death and unhappiness. They cannot abide anyone enjoying life and so they must ruin it for all, even dogs.
dox these clowns
make em famous
It’s funny, PETA wants to “save dogs”, yet if they kill the Iditarod they essentially kill the dogs.
Go figure.