WASILLA, AK - Iditarod officials announced today they would adopt the controversial 'death penalty' policy for next season's race. The sled racing body, after a heated debate inside the town hall, narrowly passed the measure by a 5-4 vote.
The divisive issue was plainly taxing on the officials, as tempers continued to flare after the ruling.
 "This changes the whole tradition of the race." said Wagner Holliman, former champion musher and director of the
committee. "This race commemorates getting life-saving medicine to Nome. So you go as fast as you can and stop for nothing - no matter what."
"We had to do something." said Leonard Pittman, one committee member who voted to apply the policy. "This thing was going to the dogs."
The 'death penalty' policy comes on the heels of years of pressure from animal rights groups. Mockingly reffered to as the 'I Killed A Dog' race in recent years, the event had resisted any sweeping changes until now. Under the new policy,
each participant will have one hour added to their time for each dog killed during the race.
"We feel, on behalf of the dogs, that justice has been served." says Frederica Lilliman, President of the local chapter of Animals Are Just Like Us. "If they really want to win the race, they'll take care of the animals that will get them there."
While the ultimate goal of the organization is not to have a race at all, Lilliman remains hopeful. "This is at least a step. A cute, fluffy little puppy step."
Some participants seemed unconcerned about the rule change. "There have been programs for a while where volunteers would pick up dropped dogs along the trail." says Pittman. "Dog deaths are actually way down. Besides, this race all about breeding anyway.
We train our dogs for years, and can weed out the lazy and weak ones. If you've got a dog on your team you have to beat to death, you weren't going to win anyway."
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