The famed filmmaker behind the exposé Sled Dogs is calling for the cancellation of the 2026 Iditarod, set to start Saturday March 7th, and the permanent end to the controversial 1,000 mile dog-sledding race, alleging more than 100 dogs have died in previous races.

PETA is also stepping up its campaign to get companies to drop sponsorship of the Iditarod, sending this message to its millions of followers, "Dogs are forced to run about 1,000 miles from Anchorage to Nome in less than two weeks, enduring freezing temperatures, blinding snowstorms, and often, painful injuries or illness. Dogs bred in the dog sledding industry are commonly treated like inventory: kept outdoors year-round in all weather extremes, in crowded, unsanitary yards where disease and parasites run rampant. With nothing to do but run in endless circles around dilapidated boxes or barrels, which are the closest things they have to a “home”, they often spend much of their lives on a chain."

So, as the snow settles on the trails of Anchorage for the 2026 Iditarod, the festive atmosphere of the March 7, 2026 ceremonial start masks this deep-seated and intensifying controversy. Known as "The Last Great Race on Earth," this 1,000-mile trek to Nome is promoted as a testament to human and canine endurance. However, to critics, it represents a grueling endurance test that pushes animals past their biological breaking points for the sake of entertainment and profit.

Now, Fern Levitt, the acclaimed director and producer of the provocative documentary Sled Dogs, is calling for the race to end... once and for all. Her award-winning film, now celebrating its 10th year anniversary, pulled back the curtain on the industry, exposing a side of mushing that rarely makes the highlight reels—from the conditions of "tethered" life in the off-season to the physical toll of the trail itself.

As the official race restart nears on March 8, 2026 in Willow, Alaska Levitt has aligned with PETA to issue a firm and urgent call: cancel the Iditarod.

Levitt argues that the race is fundamentally built on a foundation of cruelty. She alleges that these dogs are forced to run to the point of exhaustion, navigating treacherous terrain and extreme conditions that far exceed their natural capabilities. In her view, these animals are not willing athletes, but rather props in a high-stakes sporting event that prioritizes a finish line over sentient lives.

With the Northern route set and the Finisher’s Banquet scheduled for March 22, the pressure on organizers has never been higher. UnchainedTV’s Jane Velez-Mitchell interviews Levitt about why she believes the Iditarod should be cancelled immediately and never scheduled again.

The Iditarod organizers deny allegations of animal cruelty and maintain that the health and safety of the dogs are their highest priorities. They are invited on at any time to provide a response.