Leon The Iditarod Sled Dog Found After Disappearing From Race In March

Leon and his owner, Sebastien Dos Santos Borges reunited [Image @theiditarod/Instagram]

The Iditarod Trail Committee (ITC) announced on Saturday that Leon, an Iditarod sled dog, has been found after being missing for three months. In fact, the dog covered almost 150 miles but has finally been rescued. According to a statement from the trail committee, musher Sebastien Dos Santos Borges was collecting Leon and taking him back home to France.

Leon goes missing during Iditarod Sled Race

Leon and his owner Sebastien Dos Santos Borges participated in the almost 1,000-mile Iditarod race across Alaska. Known as the Last Great Race, it began on March 6 north of Anchorage and took mushers through Alaska’s untamed wilderness. Meanwhile, the route included two mountain ranges, the frozen Yukon River and the Bering sea ice on Alaska’s western coastline.

Leon [Image @theiditarod/Instagram]

However, during the race, Leon the sled dog went missing after an “escape” from the race’s Ruby checkpoint. On May 31, 2022, residents of the city of McGrath, more than 120 miles from the checkpoint got in touch. They told Race Director/Marshall Mark Nordman that Leon had been seen around a community member’s cabin. The resident and another dog musher had been leaving food out for the dog in the hope of catching him. This finally worked and Leon was captured.

Owner reunites with beloved sled dog Leon

The ITC contacted Leon’s owner to give him updates and to coordinate transportation to McGrath to collect his dog. On the morning of June 4, 2022, Dos Santos Borges arrived in Anchorage ready to collect Leon. Now, plans are being made for the happy owner to fly Leon back home with him to France.

Leon and his owner, Sebastien Dos Santos Borges reunited [Image @theiditarod/Instagram]

The trail committee said in a statement that musher Sebastien Dos Santos Borges was picking Leon up to return with him to France. Moreover, the Iditarod expressed its gratitude to all of “Iditarod Nation’s help, prayers, thoughts and well wishes for Leon.” They thanked the volunteers, search fund organizers and individual donors and community members involved. The Iditarod particularly thanked the “heroes of McGrath” who had helped towards the cause of finding the lost dog. Moreover, they closed the statement, writing:

Alaska is an incredibly special place as is the spirit of the community, which is part of what makes The Last Great Race so special.  Thank you, Iditarod Nation, and welcome home, Leon!

As can be seen from the images shared by the trail committee on Instagram, his owner was thrilled to have Leon back. Meanwhile, the dog himself certainly looks happy to be reunited with Dos Santos Borges.