Cantwell, AK – On Monday evening, a devastating accident claimed the lives of multiple sled dogs who were hit by a snowmachine outside of Cantwell. Mike Parker, a musher, released details of the tragedy on the Denali Highway in a public Facebook post, writing:
I was driving the main race team from Jim’s Northern Whites Sled Dog Kennel. A few miles from the truck we were involved in a head-on collision with a snowmachine. This snowmachine was in a group of riders that had passed us going both ways many, many times over the weekend prior to the incident.
Parker said that one dog died on impact and another shortly thereafter. Another musher arrived to the scene of the accident and assisted in loading the dead and dying dogs into a sled for transport to a truck.
Another dog died in the truck and one dog made it to Tier 1 Vet Clinic in Wasilla; she suffered a fractured femur and other injuries but is stable and awaiting surgery.
Parker writes:
This was an unspeakable tragedy. Myself, Jim, our families and the mushing community are mourning the loss of these wonderful animals.
Adding:
Words cannot describe how important and meaningful these animals are to me and the Laniers. As companions they were sweet gentle and full of personality. They truly embodied the Alaskan spirit and will live on through their teammates and in my heart.
Rest in peace.
(Feature image via Pixabay – stock image, not the dogs involved in this tragedy)
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Poor sled dogs–suffering abuse daily pulling around the mushers so they can make money. Now this!! The mushers dont have to make like they care about the dogs who died–they dont care about anything but$$$$$$$$$$$$
That is the TRUTH
Horrifying. People never cease to shock and sadden me. Imagine the dogs’ terrifying, painful deaths. If there’s any justice out there, all animals go to heaven, and only a small percentage of people do.
they run the dogs to death and for what… i trophy and money…. now this??? why in the hell do they still do this…. ohhh sure they say… these dogs live to run like this…. no… u trained them to do it…. just another form of animal abuse….RIP dogs…. sorry the humans got u killed in this way…..
and another thing… how the hell did u not see a big snow machine or whatever it was….probably ran the dogs right into it….
How about idiots stop riding snow mobiles where it is a common spot for dog sledding. There are plenty of snowy areas in Alaska. Also how do you hit a sled with dogs unless you are being reckless and driving way too fast.
That is truly a horrible horrific way for these poor dogs to live…… being exploited for peoples money and ‘fun’ we’ll it’s sickening and this horrendous behavior should not be allowed! As if mushers care for their dogs????? Leaving them in freezing cold tied up no food or crappy food at its best, pulling people around (get a snowmobile!) and now having innocent animals crash into
A snow machine!!!!! This is just plain sick and disgusting for those poor animals! Stop this barbaric abuse and let the mushers get a job that they are hurting and killing dogs!!! Pathetic!
Dog sledding should be outlawed. These poor dogs are not treated well at all. What a disgusting, avoidable tragedy.
There would be a dead snow mobile operator if these were my dogs!
I like this idea – how about put the dogs in the sled and make the people run. See how that works out.
THESE ANIMALS SUFFER NEEDLESSLY!
DO NOT SUPPORT MUSHERS, THEY DO NOT CARE ABOUT THESE DOGS!
STOP USING INNOCENT ANIMALS TO LINE YOUR POCKETS/LIVELIHOOD.
GET A REAL JOB AND SUPPORT YOURSELF INSTEAD ON THE BACKS OF THESE INNOCENT DOGS!
These evil people deserve to die as well!! Kill them!!