Iditarod Dog Dies, One Missing as Race Continues

March 12, 2009

Iditarod Dog Dies, One Missing as Race Continues: Just days in to the 1,000-mile cross country race, tragedy has struck the Iditarod Trail. One dog has died from causes yet unknown, while another mushing team suffered a crash where one dog has gone missing.

ANCHORAGE -- Tragedy has tainted the extensive Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race in the Alaskan wilderness, as one sled dog died on Tuesday.

Six-year-old Victor's cause of death was unknown; he was part of musher Jeff Holt's team, which will be allowed to forge on in the 2009 race.

Another canine accident has caused Nancy Yoshida, 58, and her team of dogs to suspend their race as of Tuesday. It was Yoshida's first time trying to complete the grueling race, which launched on Sunday.

Yoshida, of Thompson, N.D., crashed her sled on Monday, and though she was unhurt in the accident, one of her dogs slipped away from the pack.

As the Anchorage Daily News reported, Yoshida, one of the 13 women in the field, became stalled on Monday night when her sled lost both of its runners. Her dogs were tied to nearby trees, but one of them, Nigel, broke free, separating himself from the canine team of 16.

The last time Yoshida saw her 5-year-old, 60-pound white husky was Tuesday morning, when he cut in front of Colorado musher Kurt Reich and his team, which were passing by.

Yoshida said she grabbed a handful of dog food and called for Nigel, but he took off.

"He was pretty shook by the whole thing," Yoshida said of Nigel's reaction to the crash. "I tried everything [to catch him]. I'm sure he'll show up. He'll smell us on the trail, hopefully, and follow us."

According to Iditarod spokesman Chas St. George, rescuers have spent hours searching for the dog. Yoshida also reportedly "spent a long time looking for her dog."

Yoshida pledged to remain on standby while search efforts continued through Wednesday afternoon.

While rescuers "would never put their lives in jeopardy," St. George said, "we're going to continue to search until we find this dog."

St. George told The Star Tribune that in the past, Iditarod rescue teams have had success in locating lost sled dogs.

"We have an aircraft up there now," St. George said of the search efforts. "Everyone has their eyes on the trail."

Recent bouts of heavy snow might make the search easier, St. George also said, since Nigel would be more likely to come toward the main, cleared path.

According to The Baltimore Sun, three dogs died in last year's 1,151-mile trek through the Alaskan wilderness.

Though some say the sport is humane, and that the dogs enjoy the competition, other groups, like PETA, have protested the Iditarod, saying it's "marked by cruelty, injuries and death."

According to the Sled Dog Action Coalition, a group committed to preventing dogs' participation in sledding events, the Iditarod has run 137 dogs to their deaths over the years.

Nevertheless, the race goes on: On Thursday, The Associated Press reported that Sebastian Schnuelle, a Canadian musher, had taken the lead, and reached the village of Nikolai -- 770 miles away from the race finish line.

Just weeks ago, Schnuelle won the Yukon Quest International Sled Dog Race, a race nearly as long as the Iditarod. He beat out other mushers in record time.

But, as four-time champion Jeff King pointed out, being far ahead this early on in the game means little to nothing.

"It's stupid," King said of racers' speedy pace this year.

Now, only four mushers and their canine teams remain in the race, which could go on for several more days before the winner reaches Nome, Alaska, the final destination.

The Associated Press, The Baltimore Sun, The Star Tribune and The Anchorage Daily News contributed to this article.