ANCHORAGE, Alaska — Iditarod race officials say a dog on a racer’s team has died of pneumonia, and the musher has been withdrawn from the event. In a statement, the Iditarod organization announced that Oshi, a 5-year-old female on the race team of Richie Beattie died Saturday evening at an animal hospital in Anchorage from aspiration pneumonia. The organization says that while carrying out post-race checkups, Iditarod Trail Committee veterinarians examining Oshi noticed signs of pneumonia. The dog died the next day. The 2019 race came during a bruising two-year stretch for the Iditarod that included a dog doping scandal and the loss of national sponsors amid protests by animal rights activists.

Source: National Post March 17, 2019 06:11 UTC