Rare Apology from PETA

Remember the story of a sled dog which died after being covered by snow drifts during a blizzard after the Iditarod ended? PETA filed charges (or at least tried to) against the musher who dropped off that dog on her way to Nome.

They've now apologized ... sort of.

Animal activists have welcomed reforms made by the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race, in the aftermath of a dropped dog death, and have issued an apology to the musher it accused of leaving the dropped dog unattended.

On March 11, Fairbanks-based musher Paige Dronby dropped Dorado, a five-year-old male, at the Unalakleet checkpoint. Dorado and other dogs at the checkpoint were under supervision but a snowstorm caused Dorado to be covered by snow. It was determined that the dog died of asphyxiation.

People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals initially accused Drobny of leaving her dog unattended and said she should be criminally prosecuted. Her lawyer countered and said PETA would be sued if it doesn’t retract its public accusations.

The animal-activist group issued a statement Friday taking a different stance:

“PETA has learned that Ms. Drobny had no way of knowing that a sudden storm was coming to the checkpoint area and is not culpable for Dorado's death. PETA apologizes for suggesting that she was. PETA thanks Ms. Drobny for asking the Iditarod to make changes so as to supply shelter for all dogs dropped off at collection points along the race route in the future and is pleased that the Iditarod has agreed.”

You can read the entire thing here.  Weak tea, to my way of thinking. Of course, PETA tried to bring their "we MUST stop all hunting, NOW" campaign here a few years ago - and then slunk quietly away after learning that many, many Alaskans depend on hunting and fishing just to survive.