PETA Alleges That Leaving Dorado to Suffocate to Death Constitutes a Violation of State Law
For Immediate Release:
March 18, 2013
Contact:
David Perle 202-483-7382
Unalakleet, Alaska -- In the wake of the death of Dorado—the 5-year-old dog who had been "dropped" from the Iditarod and who asphyxiated on Friday after being buried in drifting snow—PETA has sent an urgent letter to Nome District Attorney John A. Earthman calling for cruelty-to-animals charges to be filed against those whose negligence resulted in Dorado's death. As PETA points out in its letter, Dorado would not have died if he had been given adequate protection from the extreme weather. Approximately 100 other "dropped" dogs spent the night indoors.
"Once again, we've seen that when mushers chase prize money, it's the dogs who pay the price—in Dorado's case, with his life," says Senior Vice President of Cruelty Investigations Daphna Nachminovitch. "Dorado's death was as horrific as it was preventable, and PETA is calling on the district attorney's office to hold those responsible for this tragedy accountable."
At least 20 dogs used in the 1,000-plus-mile Iditarod have died just since 2005. Common injuries and conditions afflicting dogs forced to run the Iditarod include everything from sore wrists and bleeding paws to hypothermia, gastric ulcers, and "sled-dog myopathy" (or being run to death). On average, more than half the dogs who start the race don't make it across the finish line, and 81 percent of those who do finish have lung damage.
For more information, please visit PETA.org.
PETA's letter to District Attorney John A. Earthman follows.
March 18, 2013
The Honorable John A. Earthman
2nd Judicial District Attorney's Office
103 E. Front St., 2nd Fl.
Nome, AK 99762-0160
Dear Mr. Earthman:
Your attention is urgently requested.
PETA is an international animal protection organization with more than 3 million members and supporters globally. This letter concerns the alarming March 15 death of an Iditarod sled dog, Dorado, during severe weather in Unalakleet. According to news reports, the 5-year-old dog was left outdoors unattended by his owner, Paige Drobny, and was exposed to temperatures of negative 15 degrees and 45 mph winds. Reportedly, a necropsy revealed that Dorado asphyxiated upon being buried in drifting snow. Had Dorado been provided with adequate shelter from such extreme weather, as were approximately 100 other "dropped" sled dogs who spent the night in airport storage buildings, he surely would not have suffered this fate. It would appear that Drobny and any Iditarod organizers responsible for Dorado's safety can be directly blamed for this animal's horrific death.
Alaska §11.61.140 states that "[a] person commits cruelty to animals if the person … with criminal negligence, fails to care for an animal and, as a result, causes the death of the animal or causes severe physical pain or prolonged suffering to the animal." Alaska §03.55.100 defines minimum care as "an environment compatible with protecting and maintaining the good health and safety of the animal."
On behalf of our members and supporters in Alaska, we respectfully request that your office do everything in its power to ensure that those responsible for this predictable, preventable tragedy are charged appropriately and vigorously prosecuted.
Thank you for your time and consideration. We hope to hear from you soon.
Sincerely,
Kristin Simon
Senior Cruelty Caseworker
Cruelty Investigations Department