Sled dogs deserve the life of a man's best friend
Thousands of sled dogs are suffering in Finland every day.
The sled dog business has grown uncontrollably in Finland during the past years, as the tourism industry keeps growing in Lapland.
Many of the sled dog operators do not care about the animal welfare legislation. The surveillance is weak and there are many issues with the wellbeing of the dogs. So far, the tourism industry has been unwilling to tackle the problems. The problematic practices cause harm to those entrepreneurs who act ethically and with the well-being of dogs in mind.
Help us help the dogs and sign a petition. We will deliver deliver the petition to the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment of Finland.
Sign the petition
We, the undersigned, demand that sled dogs must be kept solely in a way that ensures their wellbeing.
The Animal Welfare Act must be observed in the tourism industry, and there must be sufficient oversight to ensure it. The wellbeing of the animals must not be up to the benevolence of the operators. Clear rules and regulations protect both the animals and honest entrepreneurs.
The dogs must have veterinary care when needed, their origin must be traceable and the dogs in general must be a suitable for the sled dog business. In addition, we demand that the workload for the dogs must be reasonable and their habitats be conducive for species-specific behaviour.
Sign the petition
This petition has already been signed by
people. Help us reach 20000 signatures!
Our demands
The responsible tourist ensures that the animals used in the travel service are doing well. Animal suffering should not be the cornerstone of the experience.
What should change in the industry?
Our demands
Serious dog crisis brewing in Finland
The sled dog business in Finland has grown fast at the expense of the dogs’ wellbeing. Officials are aware of the issues, but the lack of resources is preventing sufficient supervision and improvement of the dogs’ living conditions. SEY is aware of dozens of cases where the dogs’ living conditions are substandard.
The ugly truth behind husky safaris
What does the Finnish law say about the sled dogs’ living conditions?
Are you wondering what is legal and what isn’t? What does the Finnish law say about the treatment of sled dogs and their living conditions?
We put together the legislation concerning sled dogs on one page.
The legislation
Report abuse
Everyone should notify the supervisory authority of suspected animal abuse. It is better to report your concern even if you are not sure whether the law is being violated.
It is the duty of the animal welfare authority to decide whether the notification gives rise to action.
You can find the contact information of the control veterinarians on the city/municipality’s website by searching for ”eläinsuojelu” or ”eläinlääkäri” or by calling the municipality’s switchboard. You can find the contact information of the police on the website: www.poliisi.fi.
You can now also report abuse to us anonymously.
Report abuse
Going to a husky safari? Remember these 5 things
A responsible tourist ensures that the animals used in tourism services are kept well.
1. Make sure you know which company you are going on a husky safari with. The travel agency should also know who runs the safari operations.
2. If you do not know the name of the company, do not book the safari. If you do know the name, search for the company online. If you only find pictures of safaris, do not book the safari. A responsible service provider will openly show what the dogs’ living conditions look like and what the dogs do when they are not working.
3. When you meet animals during your trip, ask where the animals are living, what their origin is and how the animals are treated.
4. Look for a certificate of responsibility when choosing a tour provider to ensure the well-being of used animals. A tourist in Finland can endorse, for instance, an operator with a Green activities certificate. In case you encounter failings in the well-being of the animals, you should contact the issuing body of the specific certificate.
5. If you notice abuse, file a report.
This is what the sled dog business looks like behind the scenes
The sled dog business in Northern Finland has grown rapidly at the expense of the dogs’ well-being. The accompanying footage was filmed in Northern Finland in 2024–2025. The videos were filmed by former employees in several different locations across Northern Finland. The video’s imagery may be disturbing.
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We, the undersigned, demand that sled dogs must be kept solely in a way that ensures their wellbeing.
The Animal Welfare Act must be observed in the tourism industry, and there must be sufficient oversight to ensure it. The wellbeing of the animals must not be up to the benevolence of the operators. Clear rules and regulations protect both the animals and honest entrepreneurs.
The dogs must have veterinary care when needed, their origin must be traceable and the dogs in general must be a suitable for the sled dog business. In addition, we demand that the workload for the dogs must be reasonable and their habitats be conducive for species-specific behaviour.
Sign the petition
This petition has already been signed by people. Help us reach 20000 signatures!
Our demands
The responsible tourist ensures that the animals used in the travel service are doing well. Animal suffering should not be the cornerstone of the experience.
What should change in the industry?
Serious dog crisis brewing in Finland
The sled dog business in Finland has grown fast at the expense of the dogs’ wellbeing. Officials are aware of the issues, but the lack of resources is preventing sufficient supervision and improvement of the dogs’ living conditions. SEY is aware of dozens of cases where the dogs’ living conditions are substandard.
What does the Finnish law say about the sled dogs’ living conditions?
Are you wondering what is legal and what isn’t? What does the Finnish law say about the treatment of sled dogs and their living conditions?
We put together the legislation concerning sled dogs on one page.
Report abuse
Everyone should notify the supervisory authority of suspected animal abuse. It is better to report your concern even if you are not sure whether the law is being violated.
It is the duty of the animal welfare authority to decide whether the notification gives rise to action.
You can find the contact information of the control veterinarians on the city/municipality’s website by searching for ”eläinsuojelu” or ”eläinlääkäri” or by calling the municipality’s switchboard. You can find the contact information of the police on the website: www.poliisi.fi.
You can now also report abuse to us anonymously.
Going to a husky safari? Remember these 5 things
A responsible tourist ensures that the animals used in tourism services are kept well.
1. Make sure you know which company you are going on a husky safari with. The travel agency should also know who runs the safari operations.
2. If you do not know the name of the company, do not book the safari. If you do know the name, search for the company online. If you only find pictures of safaris, do not book the safari. A responsible service provider will openly show what the dogs’ living conditions look like and what the dogs do when they are not working.
3. When you meet animals during your trip, ask where the animals are living, what their origin is and how the animals are treated.
4. Look for a certificate of responsibility when choosing a tour provider to ensure the well-being of used animals. A tourist in Finland can endorse, for instance, an operator with a Green activities certificate. In case you encounter failings in the well-being of the animals, you should contact the issuing body of the specific certificate.
5. If you notice abuse, file a report.
This is what the sled dog business looks like behind the scenes
The sled dog business in Northern Finland has grown rapidly at the expense of the dogs’ well-being. The accompanying footage was filmed in Northern Finland in 2024–2025. The videos were filmed by former employees in several different locations across Northern Finland. The video’s imagery may be disturbing.