The San Francisco online retailer, which pulled the plug Nov. 7 after failing to find a financial backer, donated more than 21 tons of dog food to help mushers in Alaska's Interior. The collapse of salmon runs this year left mushers with too little food for their dogs this winter.
Villagers use sled dogs to check trap lines, haul water and firewood, and travel between villages.
When the animal-loving company heard about the plight of the hungry sled dogs, it knew it had to act, said John Cummings, director of investor relations. The online retailer kept the plan to itself and waited until it was in liquidation before going ahead because it didn't want to hear from grumpy stockholders who might want the inventory sold instead, he said. Our company is committed to pets, to animal welfare. Most people at this company are passionate about it. The Alaska Railroad Corp. then agreed to get the dog food from Anchorage to Fairbanks, where it was transferred to the Tanana Chiefs Conference for distribution to the villages of Anvik, Grayling, Holy Cross, Nikolai, Shageluk, Takotna and Kalskag.