Iditarod Dog Dies, Smothered by Snow During Race [VIDEO]

A dog was found smothered in snow on March 15 when left behind at a checkpoint along the tour of the Iditarod sled-dog race in Alaska, Yahoo reported.

The dog was a 5-year-old male named Dorado in the team of musher Paige Drobny. He was found dead at Unalakleet, an Inupiat Eskimo village and race checkpoint on the Bering Sea coast. This was the first time a dog died in the race since 2009. 

Race Marshal Mark Nordman said based on necropsy, the animal procedure equivalent of an autopsy, the death was caused by asphyxiation from being buried in snow in severe wind conditions.

Iditarod mushers begin the race with a maximum of 16 dogs but sometimes leave them at checkpoints as their animals tire. Most mushers finish with a team of about 10 dogs. Dorado was left at Unalakleet because of sore muscles, according to Iditarod spokeswoman Erin McLarnon. He was among a group of dogs set to be flown back to Anchorage, Nordman said. The animals were left outside and they were checked on at 3 a.m. on March 15.

"Between that time and daylight, drifting snow covered several dogs and Dorado was found to be deceased," Nordman said.

Animal rights activists have criticized the Iditarod, saying competitors push the dogs too hard in racing and training, and subject the animals to dangerous conditions.