ExxonMobil becomes latest sponsor to sever Iditarod ties

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Associated Press


MARK THIESSEN,
Associated Press
Jan. 21, 2021
Updated: Jan. 21, 2021 10:09 p.m.

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) — The Iditarod, the world’s most famous sled dog race, has lost another major sponsor as it prepares for a scaled back version of this year’s race because of the pandemic, officials said Thursday.

ExxonMobil confirmed to The Associated Press that the oil giant will drop its sponsorship of the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race. The move came after ExxonMobil, which has been a race sponsor since 1978, received pressure from one of its shareholders and the race’s biggest critic, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals.

“After careful review of sponsorships in light of current economic conditions, we’ve decided to conclude our sponsorship of the Iditarod following the 2021 race,” ExxonMobil spokesperson Ashley Alemayehu said in an email to the AP.

“The health and safety of the dogs, and everyone involved in the event, has always been an important consideration for us,” Alemayehu said.

Read more: https://www.chron.com/news/article/AP-NewsBreak-ExxonMobile-drops-sponsorship-of-15889063.php

[Doreen]

1. I can't stand PETA and I am an animal rights person.

I understand crowds and the pandemic but the Iditarod can be set up to practice social distancing and still work smoothly.

As far as the dogs being ok they are fine. It is not abuse. Those dogs love to do sledding. They are treated very well and are kept in good health.

PETA is the same organization that thinks it is wrong to train dogs to help people with disabilities.

[marble falls]

2. How many dogs have died running Iditarod ...

... https://thedogvisitor.com/qa/how-many-dogs-have-died-in-the-iditarod



Sled Dog Action Coalition: https://www.change.org/o/sled_dog_action_coalition_2

PETA is not a likable bunch of folks (I'd never join). But they are right about a lot of animal issues and Iditarod is one of them.

[kaotikross]

4. wow, I didn't know so many died.

I may have to rethink my stance on this.

[marble falls]

5. It made me completely flip mine. Definitely put the nail in it.

[Drahthaardogs]

6. How many dogs die hunting?

I breed and train vorstehund dogs from Germany. They LOVE what they do. I grew up with working border collies. Neither my dogs nor the collies are truly happy in non-working homes.

My dogs would literally go crazy if not trained daily and hunted often. It’s who they are

[marble falls]

8. Good question. How many?

[rkleinberger]

9. Agreed!

First of all it is outside with teams very much apart from each other. It is like skiing in a way. Also, the dogs love this. This is work and play for them. Dogs need stimulation and thrive better when having tasks. So PETA stick it!

[kaotikross]

3. Overreach, in my opinion

I watched a documentary about the race and the dogs obviously love it. Those dogs also cost and bring big bucks, they aren't killed when their race days are over because older sled dogs are used to train newer ones. They put a few older dogs at the heads of the packs of young ones to do that- it's not like greyhounds being dumped or killed. They also don't over breed the dogs, it's a really tight community of a few aficionados doing all the breeding of lines that go back over a century. The dogs also get super high quality food which is usually mostly meat and I've yet to see a dog who isn't a big fan of meat- they need those kinds of calories to do the work they do. While I get the no-fur position PETA takes and the criticism of factory farm practices sometimes I do think PETA wastes time criticizing things that just aren't a problem.

[modrepub]

7. I Agree

Watch way too much of Life Below Zero. One of their regulars is an Iditarod racer who seems to be a real dog lover from what makes it onto the show. These folks have far too much invested in these races to willfully harm their animals. It would make more sense to encourage the group putting the race together to make it a point to keep the animals safe during the race and remove any participants who are abusing their animals then shutting the whole thing down.

I think ExxonMobile is having more financial problems than ethics issues with the Iditarod. A company that is heavily invested in oil and gas in a world that is encouraging renewables to address climate change is probably looking to cut costs. It would make more sense for them to hire lobbyists to plead their case than supporting expensive PR moves.

[Bayard]

10. PETA has done some good things

But they also have some crazies. Good on them for exposing abuse of lab animals. Bad that some think no one should be able to own animals. I've read of devastating instances where they tell a homeless person they are taking their dog to the vet for shots, but put it down instead.

Working dogs LOVE what they do. Sled dogs are highly valued, and very well cared for. If herding dogs don't have sheep to herd, they will find something else. I had a Collie that used to herd the neighbors chickens. I adopted several Greyhounds from a kennel that loved their dogs, and always tried very hard to place the retired ones with good people. I used to take the ones I had to coursing matches (races on a small grass course where they chase a battery-operated lure (usually a grocery bag) on a wire. Two or three go at a time. The dogs were wild for it. They would tremble with excitement, and actually turn around and chew at their leashes to be let go. My Great Pyrenees are always on farm patrol, looking for anything they view as a possible threat to bark at (they really hate UPS and the garbage truck).

Dogs will do what they are bred for, and they love their work.

[kristofarian]

11. perhaps instead of sleds

they might pull barrels of Crude oil around on some fake snow whilst we long for the vanishing days of Winter -- brought to you by EXXON

BP Chevron and that Koch Bro LLC.