AARP has removed dogsledding-related activities from its programming, and dogsledding-related content from its website. The move came after People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) reached out to AARP this past February with its concerns.
“The Iditarod and dogsledding is one of PETA’s main issues,” Mary Robles a corporate responsibility officer with PETA, told The NonProfit Times. “We have worked with a lot of major companies, especially on the Iditarod, to ask them to drop their sponsorship, and many companies have done so once we’ve shown the extent to which dogs suffer in this industry.”
AARP came to PETA’s attention after a PETA member brought a Facebook post which mentioned dogsledding as a recommended activity, according to Robles. PETA representatives reached out to AARP. “They responded almost immediately, which is very rare, and agreed to discuss more with us,” Robles said. “We shared some of the other listings we were seeing, and they removed those after a couple of conversations.” The content had been taken down by April, according to Robles.
AARP dogsledding-related content had previously included travel opportunities and a mention of a 53-year-old Iditarod Trail Dog Race champion. While Google listings of the content remain, as do mentions of AARP and dogsledding on non-AARP websites, links to most of the content now bring up generic home pages, although as of mid-May a blog post that mentioned Iditarod Trail Dog Race champion Mitch Seavey in conjunction with several other 50+ sports champions (https://blog.aarp.org/bulletin-today/iditarod-champ-joins-ranks-of-50-sports-champions) still linked to a post that mentioned dogsledding.
PETA representatives were quick to tout the organization’s victory, but AARP’s leadership has taken a quieter route, removing the content (for the most part) but limiting its public comment on its actions.
“We continually review and update the content we offer based on the multilayered interests of our members.” AARP spokesperson Colby Nelson wrote, in full, in an email to The NonProfit Times.
Robles is not surprised. “When an agreement has come to this, we’ll let the company know we’re looking forward to sharing the news with our supporters,” she said. “If it’s a behind-the-scenes conversation, maybe it’s just not one of their priorities. But for PETA, it certainly is because it’s an excellent decision. And it really helps move the needle for other companies showing that a major organization like AARP has taken this action that will spread awareness about the cruelty of this industry.
“There’s a range of responses and relationships we have with various companies,” Robles continued. “Some are just as excited to share news about a positive step as PETA is and others prefer to let us share. It definitely varies.”
PETA leadership will continue the dialog with AARP, and within the next year will be sending a goodwill message reminding AARP leaders of their actions regarding this matter. “It’s a good way to keep that commitment in the forefront and keep the communication on that commitment going,” Robles said.
