Beyond Finland’s picture-perfect snowy landscapes and magical Northern Lights, an animal welfare crisis is spiraling out of control – one that involves terrible cruelty.
A huge boom in tourism featuring rides on sleds pulled by a team of dogs has resulted in huskies and other sled dogs being callously treated as nothing more than money-making machines.
Huskies chained, caged, neglected… then shot and killed when deemed ‘useless.’
Tourists pay big money for scenic sled rides, but never see what life is like for the dogs behind the scenes.
Dogs are often treated with heartless cruelty, forced to run for up to eight hours a day with minimal rest, pulling sleds carrying up to four people with no weight limits – as well as a 110-lbs (50-kilogram) sled. Out of sight of tourists, many dogs are beaten, deprived of proper shelter, bedding or warmth in temperatures as low as -27 °F (-33 °C), all while being confined to short chains or cramped cages.
When they’re not being forced to run, huskies and other short-coated sled dogs are chained or crammed into tiny cages – without proper shelter, warmth or even basic care in freezing temperatures. Source: SEY Animal Welfare Finland
There are documented cases of dogs being denied adequate food and water, neglected for months during the off-season and handled badly by inexperienced staff.
Across northern Finland, tens of thousands of dogs are trapped in this nightmare.
Now, an investigation by our partner, SEY Animal Welfare Finland, has revealed the shocking scale of this crisis. Oversight is dangerously limited, with just a handful of supervising veterinarians, few inspections, little to no veterinary care and weak enforcement.
The dogs are paying the price.
With too few veterinarians to help them, the majority of sick and injured sled dogs are left untreated. When they can no longer work, they are shot and replaced. Source: SEY Animal Welfare Finland
Most dogs are Alaskan or Siberian huskies, bred for endurance and cold climates. But to cut costs, some operators import short-coated dogs from warmer climates – dogs unsuited to freezing temperatures – leaving them to suffer frostbite alongside the huskies.
Even some so-called “ethical” operators cannot be fully trusted. During peak seasons, animal welfare standards are often ignored.
And when a dog can no longer run?
“Too slow.”
“Too sick.”
“Too old.”
They are shot and killed – because it’s cheaper than treatment and easier than rehoming.
The authorities know this is happening. But enforcement is critically under-resourced, operators hide their most distressed dogs and there is almost nowhere to place rescued dogs.
High demand for husky safaris and sled rides fuels cruelty, unethical breeding and the import of short-coated breeds unfit for Arctic conditions. Source: SEY Animal Welfare Finland
This must change.
Without urgent action, sled dogs will suffer.
We are working with SEY to expose this cruelty, push for stronger laws, demand proper enforcement and hold the industry accountable – but we need your help.
With your donation today, you can:
- Urgently deploy more vets to the area
- Fund undercover investigations to expose abuse and gather critical evidence
- Power urgent advocacy efforts to push for stronger laws and enforcement
- Drive public pressure through hard-hitting awareness campaigns
- Help secure lasting protections for sled dogs across the industry
Will you help the huskies and spread the truth about this extraordinary cruelty to man’s best friend?
Sled dogs in the Finnish winter tourism industry are treated with heartless cruelty. Those responsible for the abuse should be held accountable. Source: SEY Animal Welfare Finland
Every action you take puts pressure on an industry that has gone unchecked for far too long.
These dogs are not just part of the snowy scenery, they are not disposable money-making machines and they are not tools for tourist entertainment. They are living, feeling animals and they deserve proper care, protection and a life free from suffering.
Please donate to Network for Animals today.
