A 4-year-old dog in the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race collapsed and died Sunday morning, according to race officials.
The dog, named George, was a part of musher Hunter Keefe’s team.
In a press release from the Iditarod, George collapsed around 10 a.m., about 35 miles outside of Kaltag — roughly 660 miles into the 1,000-mile race.
“Attempts to revive George were unsuccessful,” the statement says.
According to Rule 42 of the race, the Iditarod holds firmly that no dog should suffer harm or death in connection to the race. However, it is understood that, in rare circumstances, dog harm or death can occur through no fault of the musher.
If a dog does happen to pass during the race, the musher must take them to the next checkpoint, or the most recent one passed. When an expired dog report has been filed, the musher is then required to either scratch or be withdrawn from the race, expect in the case of an unpreventable hazard.
In response to George’s passing, Keefe dropped out of the Iditarod at the next checkpoint, Unalakleet, at 11:30 p.m..
George’s passing follows shortly after rookie musher Isaac Teaford’s team member Bog passed away. On Sunday, March 10th, Bog collapsed 200 feet from the Nulato checkpoint, at mile 582 of the 1,000-mile race.
Bog was the first dog in the 2024 race to pass. He was 2-years old.
“I mean, it’s very unfortunate. And we try to learn everything we can for any future applications that would benefit our dog care protocols,” said Teaford in an interview in Unalakleet on Sunday. “But yeah, it’s very, very sad.”
According to a statement, “Iditarod checkers and one Iditarod Veterinarian approached the team and CPR was administered for 20 minutes, but Bog unfortunately did not survive.”
A pathologist conducted a necropsy, but the cause of death remained undetermined. Iditarod Veterinarian Stu Nelson said the race will continue to investigate Bog’s death.
This was Teaford’s first Iditarod. Although he’s originally from Utah, he currently resides in Talkeetna, where he runs dogs at five-time Iditarod champion Dallas Seavey’s kennel.
According to a Facebook post from Seavey, Teaford was planning to mush Seavey’s “B team” in the 2024 race.
After a statement released on Sunday, Teaford dropped out of the race at 2:25 p.m. on Sunday in Nulato.
