North Dakota vet to travel to Alaska for Iditarod

BISMARCK, ND (KFYR) – On March 1st, Casselton, North Dakota vet John Reichert is leaving for his 22nd trip to Alaska.

Combining his love of veterinary work with his childhood fascination with dogs, Reichert will be one of two dozen vets volunteering at the checkpoints in a 1,000-mile stretch.

“What made me want to go, I guess, is that sled dogs are really amazing athletes. Mushers get a lot of credit for the 1925 serum, but without sled dogs, they’re kind of unsung heroes,” Reichert said.

The race starts in Anchorage and ends in Nome Alaska, and while it’s a 20-day event, Reichert says most teams finish in about 10 days. Like any other athlete, the training, dedication and strength of sled dogs is nothing short of amazing, says Reichert.

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