By The Associated Press AP

6:53 p.m. AKDT, March 21, 2013
ANCHORAGE, Alaska—

A lawyer for a musher whose dog died after being removed from Alaska's Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race plans to sue People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals unless the organization retracts public statements blaming his client.

Attorney Myron Angstman says he sent a letter to PETA Thursday on behalf of musher Paige Drobny, whose 5-year-old dog, Dorado, was buried in snow in extreme winds at a checkpoint and suffocated Friday. Drobny had left the dog in the care of Iditarod representatives and continued the 1,000-mile race.

Angstman's letter seeks a retraction from PETA for "unfounded allegations that (Drobny) left her dog unattended, that she is to blame for the death of the dog, and that she should be criminally prosecuted."

The letter says Drobny has suffered personal attacks as a result of PETA's misrepresentations.

PETA spokeswoman Colleen O'Brien says the organization has not received the letter so it can't comment on it specifically. She says her group is "calling for those held responsible for Dorado's death to be appropriately charged."

The move came as PETA says it sent a letter to sponsors Thursday, asking them to permanently pull out of backing the race.
   
Race organizers say changes are planned for care of dogs removed from the race, in response to Dorado’s death.

Changes planned include construction of dog shelters at two major checkpoints for withdrawn dogs and more frequent checks on the animals.

PETA has long criticized the race as cruel.