National Sled Dog Day

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Where is National Sled Dog Day celebrated? 

This day is mostly celebrated in US and Canada and is celebrated to honor the sled dogs who helped save lives in Alaska by sled dog racing. New Hampshire has quite a history in sled dog racing, and several major racing events are held there, which attract lots of people from across Canada and the US.

Another race is held in Laconia, which usually has races of short distances. A 60 mi (95.5 km) mid-distance race is held in Sandwich. Mushers can run these trails with their dog sledding teams and raise awareness about the brave and loyal animals.

Who is National Sled Dog Day celebrated by?

The origin of the National Sled Dog Day and its founder is unknown to this day.

Sled dogs are actually still used as a mode of transportation by certain rural communities in Canada, Alaska, and Greenland; the natives and the mushers who control the dogs celebrate this day even today by organizing and participating in races.

When did National Sled Dog Day first start?

On February 2, 1925, about 20 Iditarod mushers and hundreds of dogs ran 674 mi (1084.7 km) in less than a day to save the lives of people in Nome, Alaska.

Balto, a Siberian husky, led its team of dogs for the last 53 mi (85.3 km) to deliver the antitoxin serum and saved several lives. That day the dog was named a hero, and in honor of those sled dogs, people started celebrating this day.

Who started National Sled Dog Day?

The founder of this day and its origins are still unknown.

History And Timeline

Sled dogs have been in existence for the last 35,000 years but have only helped man in the last 3,000 years when people who belonged to the fishing and hunting communities were forced to move further north towards Siberia, Alaska, Canada, and Greenland.

Traditions And Customs

While there aren't any specific rules or customs to follow, different individuals celebrate this in their own way.

Ways To Observe Or Celebrate National Sled Dog Day

There are several ways to honor the brave dogsled team.

In honor of this day, various races are organized, like the Iditarod Race or the Yukon Quest, which you can enjoy watching annually. You can also pick this day to donate to charities and organizations that care for dogs and other animals.

You can even go out of your way to rescue or adopt huskies that are being used in sick conditions for the benefit of people. Another way of honoring this day is by joining hands with PETA, who are constantly working to spread awareness about the mistreatment of animals.

Facts And Stats

• The sled dogs are a breed of Alaskan husky, hound, and Collie or Irish settlers. This makes them strong enough to bear the winter and also pull the dog sleds. This day celebrates these brave dogs.
• This day is a reminder of the brave sled dogs who used to supply mails and other important supplies to gold miners during the withering conditions of the Alaskan Gold Rush.
• This day also commemorates the bravery of Balto, a Siberian husky, the lead dog who battled the winter conditions and helped deliver antitoxin serums with the help of its dog team to help save hundreds of lives battling with diphtheria in Nome, Alaska. The movie 'Balto' was based on this husky.

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