Finnish husky safari operator quits over ethical concerns for dogs

A husky sledding business owner in Finnish Lapland has stopped offering tourist rides, saying the commercial safaris were causing unacceptable stress and physical harm to the dogs, Yle reports.

Anni Järveläinen, a 36-year-old entrepreneur from Ivalo, ended her contract with a local hotel after observing that many of her 47 working dogs showed signs of distress from constantly changing, inexperienced drivers. Some animals developed muscle tension, joint pain, and behavioral issues despite their eagerness to run.

“People would fall off the sled, and the sled would hit the dogs’ hind legs, scaring them,” Järveläinen explained. “A dog must trust the person driving to perform at full capacity.”

Her decision follows earlier reports by Yle and the Finnish Animal Protection Association (SEY) revealing widespread welfare concerns in the industry, including disturbing images from kennels.

Researcher: “One of the toughest jobs for dogs”

Riitta Kempe, a researcher at Finland’s Natural Resources Institute with over 30 years of sled dog experience, calls tourist safaris “the most demanding work in the dog world.” She emphasizes that only mentally resilient dogs—carefully selected, trained, and bred for the task—can handle the stress.

“Negative experiences stay with them,” Kempe said. “Their temperament determines how they recover.”

Kempe, a former world championship medalist in sled dog racing, notes that while dogs can perform the work, not all should. Owners must ensure proper breeding, upbringing, training, nutrition, and healthcare to mitigate risks.

Physical toll despite enthusiasm

Järveläinen, also a physiotherapist and osteopath, treated both humans and dogs in her practice. She observed that tourist rides—often with five or six dogs pulling 100+ kilograms over 30–40 km, five days a week—took a severe physical toll.

“Adrenaline masks the pain while running, but it surfaces later,” she said. Many dogs hid when tourists arrived, while others showed subtle changes in movement indicating discomfort. Though eager to work, their bodies struggled to recover.

After reducing her operations to small private bookings, Järveläinen ultimately halted all commercial rides this past winter. Her dogs now work only with her at the reins—something she describes as a relief for both the animals and herself.