Let's do the math. If five dogs die every year how many years will it take for 1000 dogs to die. 1000 is a conservative estimate considering the many thousands that survive in these dog mushing kennels and will need to be put down with no means of support . Most of these mushers don't have the heart to kill there friends so there only alternative is to sit and watch them starve to death. We see it almost every year in Alaska where someone gets arrested for cruelty for lack of funds to feed there team. Great athletes die and those attempting to become such all the time and in almost all instances due to the process of becoming what it is they aspire to be. These dogs love what they do and if you don't believe that try leaving one behind. Dogs love to run. They don't live to sit on your lap. They live to run and they love to compete and in this case these dogs are well conditioned pro athletes who work out every day aspiring to become the best at what they do. Dogs aren't complicated .