Sled dogs mistreated in Finnish Lapland’s tourism industry

Finland's booming tourism industry in Lapland is causing thousands of sled dogs to suffer due to inadequate safeguards for their welfare. The rapid growth of winter tourism, which often includes husky safaris, has led to substandard conditions for sled dogs, including inadequate shelter, poor health management, incompetent handling, and lack of exercise during the quieter summer months. There are also concerns about uncontrolled breeding, illegal importation of dogs, and suspected criminal activities linked to the industry.

SEY, an animal welfare organisation, is calling for urgent reforms and stronger oversight to address the mistreatment of sled dogs in Finland. They are advocating for better enforcement of animal welfare legislation, monitoring of sled dog operations, transparency and registration of dogs, and increased accountability for tourism providers. The public is encouraged to support the campaign by signing the petition and reporting any suspected animal welfare violations anonymously. Ethical and sustainable tourism must prioritize the care and dignity of sled dogs to ensure they are treated with the respect they deserve.