Dog Blessed celebrates people and pets! This week, Jodi is circling back to one of her favorite sports that combine both animals and humans, Dog Sledding! She’s gone the distance with the sport bringing in some of the biggest names in the past to be guests. The Iditarod is the historic race in focus and from the beginnings of it for a lifesaving medical run to the racing today, the work done between dogs and humans has been amazing. Add in some “girl power” and it’s even more fascinating. Dog Blessed is brought to you by Must Love Dogs and Clock’s Timeless Pets.
The root of the Iditarod was diphtheria in 1925. This highly contagious respiratory disease was spreading in Gnome Alaska and the only way to get the serum there to contain it was a dog sled. in 1973 the heroics were turned into a race and the competition is grueling. It’s a test of teams, stamina of man (or woman) and animals and mindset. Three hero female mushers, Susan Butcher, Libby Riddles, and Pam Flowers. Susan Butcher won the Iditarod four times and fought off a moose with an ax…was even invited to see the President Ronald Reagan at the time she was so amazing. Women have left their marks on the sport and leveled the playing field more than once. Jodi shares the stories!
