The Last Great Race has lost a once great sponsor; as Wells Fargo announced on Wednesday that the corporate office has pulled all sponsorship of the Iditarod Sled Dog Race.
The announcement ends a 29-year relationship between Wells Fargo and the Iditarod which began in 1988 with National Bank of Alaska and continued with Wells Fargo beginning in 1999.
PETA, the People for Ethical Treatment of Animals, is alleged to be instrumental in Wells Fargo corporate office in San Francisco’s decision to pull sponsorship of the world-famous sled dog race.
The Wells Fargo corporate office released a statement declaring “Wells Fargo regularly reviews where we allocate our marketing resources to build and enhance relationships with customers and the broader community. As part of this process, we have decided not to sponsor the Iditarod in 2018.
The Iditarod Trail Committee has responded in a released statement.
The Iditarod Trail Committee has shared a very strong relationship with Wells Fargo for many years. That relationship began in 1988 with the National Bank of Alaska under the leadership of the late Elmer Rasmuson, and was carried forward by his son, Ed Rasmuson. In 1999, Wells Fargo continued that tradition through the 2017 Iditarod.
We are disappointed by the decision made by Wells Fargo corporate personnel in San Francisco to discontinue sponsorship of the Iditarod. We know that support for the Iditarod by Wells Fargo Alaska remains strong.
There is no doubt that the decision announced earlier this week is directly related to the manipulative misinformation that P.E.T.A and others have been using to target our sponsors at their corporate headquarters outside of Alaska. These misguided activists are implying that the Iditarod condones and engages in cruelty to sled dogs that participate in the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race. Nothing could be further from the truth. We honor the sled dogs who participate in the Iditarod. We take every step to ensure our canine athletes are provided the very best care possible on the trail, and always treated with respect.
The Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race is, at its core, a celebration of the rich tradition of the peoples of Alaska and the Alaskan Sled Dog that has been such an integral part of our great State’s evolution. The Iditarod Trail Committee and our partners are committed to Alaska and the strong bond we have with these great canine companions. We are confident that that we will emerge from this conflict stronger and more resilient, with a greater commitment to preserving our history and sharing it with future generations of Alaskans.
More details on the Wells Fargo decision to follow.