I applaud this decision.

In the village of Lake Iliamna the dogs live in old 55 gallon fuel drums laying on there side. When it rains they collect 2 to 4 inches of water on the bottom that freezes. If the dog owner is feeling good that week he might throw a flattened cardboard box on the ice layer for the dog to sleep on.

Respectfully, Iditarod-caliber mushers do not treat their dogs like random villagers would in an outback town of 110 people. What you wrote absolutely does not reflect the care professional mushers give their dogs. Many kennels are open for summer tours and the public can get educated on what it takes to breed happy, healthy racing dogs. If you are saying this is how you believe Iditarod dogs are treated you simply don’t know what you’re talking about.

I knew a couple guys who ran it a few times, not competively. Their dogs were their joy. I have seen Jeff King's place and John Baker's.

Baker is my favorite musher. A real native Alaskan who hunts with his team out on the ice!

from what I have seen and learned and I am a huge dog/animal lover.

That's too many for me. I know these dogs love to run but there are many other shorter, less punishing races they could enter. It's just too grueling, imho.

and less grueling races would be better for them. They could still run and do what they love too.

Hasn't the care and treatment of the dogs running in the Iditarod come under scrutiny for years and conditions have radically improved in the past 5-10 years?

The treatment of the dogs years ago was not so good.........

was beautiful in it's portrayal of the intense bond between a good sled-dog owner and their dogs.
There is a picture that makes me smile every time I flip to it of a owner holding his dog with a huge smile on his face.

Too many pups suffer and die. Its time has passed.

Anyone or any advertiser that supports this inhumane and torture of dogs should hang their heads in shame. Good for PETA.