AR-News: Iditarod dog sits down and dies

[Glickman37 at aol.com]

Dog dies in Iditarod leader's team

By MARY PEMBERTON, Associated Press Writer

UNALAKLEET, Alaska (March 14, 2:55 pm AST) - Norway's Kjetil Backen kept the 
slimmest of leads Sunday, arriving just a minute ahead of Mitch Seavey after 
stopping outside the Unalakleet checkpoint because one of his dogs collapsed 
and died.Backen, who was between a quarter-mile and half-mile from the 
checkpoint when he stopped his sled, said the dog sat down and died.

It is a 90-mile trek from Kaltag to Unalakleet, the second longest stretch 
between checkpoints on the trail. Unalakleet is 219 miles from the finish line 
in Nome. 

Backen beckoned for help from a reporter and photographer for The Associated 
Press who were on a snowmobile outside the checkpoint. Backen told them his 
dog had died and to go get race marshal Mark Nordman. He said he didn't want to 
carry the dead dog in his sled bag into the checkpoint.

When asked what happened, Backen said, "He sat down. I can't speak about it 
anymore," as he cradled the dead dog's muzzle in his hand. Backen said he'd 
never had a dog die on him before.

Backen, whose team is almost entirely made up of dogs from 2003 Iditarod 
winner and fellow Norwegian Robert Sorlie's team, is running in his second 
Iditarod. He came in 10th in 2002 during his rookie year. Sorlie is not racing this 
year.

After Nordman arrived, Backen informed him one of his dogs was dead and 
unzipped his sled bag to show him.

"Why?" asked a very distraught Backen, as Nordman put his hand on his 
shoulder to comfort him.

Nordman told Backen that the Unalakleet checkpoint was crowded with people 
waiting for his arrival.

"You have to put this out of your mind. You're doing a wonderful job," 
Nordman said. The black dog was pulled from the sled basket and placed in a duffel 
bag that Nordman had brought with him.

"It is a real tragedy for him and dog mushing as a whole," Nordman said later 
at a news conference. "He's devastated and trying to deal with it."

Nordman said Backen's team looked strong approaching Unalakleet and he would 
be allowed to continue the race. The dog's body would be sent to Anchorage for 
a necropsy. Results should be available sometime Monday, Nordman said.

Al Townshend, the head veterinarian at Unalakleet, said racing sled dogs can 
die suddenly from a number of causes, including aspirating the contents of 
their stomachs and gastric ulcers. He said the dogs remaining in Backen's team 
looked "pretty good." A vet at the previous checkpoint 90 miles away in Kaltag 
described them as "phenomenal."

Townshend said Backen's team also is especially well-conditioned, having 
4,000 training miles on them to prepare for this year's Iditarod, about twice that 
of many other teams.

Backen arrived at the checkpoint at 11:25 a.m., with Seavey arriving just one 
minute later, having gained on the leader while Backen was stopped outside 
the checkpoint. Seavey said when his team saw Backen's team just ahead, they 
picked up the pace.

Once into Unalakleet, Backen put on a brave face, signing autographs for the 
many children gathered about and joshing a bit with Seavey.

"Maybe Mitch will be the rabbit for a while," Backen said. Seavey responded, 
"I like being just behind."

Seavey is competing in his 11th Iditarod. His best finish was fourth in 1998. 
He said he thinks he can overtake Backen before Nome.

Charlie Boulding of Manley was in third place and still on the trail to 
Unalakleet, followed by John Baker of Kotzebue, three-time Iditarod winner Jeff 
King and five-time winner Rick Swenson of Two Rivers. Four-time winner Martin 
Buser was next, followed by 2002 and 2003 runner-up Ramy Brooks of Healy.

A record 87 mushers began the 1,100-mile race from Anchorage to Nome on March 
6. Seven mushers have scratched, including four-time Iditarod winner Doug 
Swingley after the cold affected his eyes and he needed immediate medical 
attention.

This year's purse is more than $700,000 with a first-place prize of $69,000 
and a new Dodge truck.

---

On the Net: www.iditarod.com 
http://www.adn.com/alaska_ap/story/4850586p-4787269c.html 


    

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