Suppose an enemy apologizes. Not because they’re sorry, but because you’ve threatened legal action, and they’re pretty sure they’d lose. They still hate you. You still hate them. What good is an apology then?

In a letter posted on their website, the infamous organization PETA accused dog sledder (musher) Paige Drobny of cruelty to animals. They blamed her (and unnamed others) for causing the death of her dog Dorado during the 2013 Iditarod race.They sent it to the DA in Nome too, asking that those responsible be prosecuted under Alaska cruelty statutes.

Drobny hired a lawyer who said they would sue PETA if they did not retract their accusation and apologize.

PETA did. “PETA has learned that Ms. Drobny had no way of knowing that a sudden storm was coming to the checkpoint area and is not culpable for Dorado’s death. PETA apologizes for suggesting that she was.” They went on to criticize the Iditarod.

Drobny said she still might sue.

So what happened here?

Drobny, a fishery biologist whose hobby is “fish,” had competed in several sled races. This was her first Iditarod. When she got to the 18th checkpoint at Unalakeet, 737 miles along the trail from Anchorage, one of the dogs, Dorado, seemed “stiff.” As is Iditarod practice, a team of vets and dog handlers was at the checkpoint, so she dropped Dorado off before heading out on the trail to Nome. 135 dogs were dropped at that checkpoint, to be flown to Anchorage where they would be reunited with the mushers. That was Wednesday, March 13^th.

After the dogs were dropped off, a storm blew in and prevented planes from landing. There was room for 105 dogs inside, so 30 dogs were put outside in the lee of a building. When they were checked at 3:00 a.m. Friday morning, they were fine, but at 8:30 a.m., it was discovered that 8 dogs had been buried by a snowdrift. It’s not unusual for sled dogs to sleep covered by snow, and 7 dogs were fine, but Dorado had died of asphyxiation.

Drobny didn’t know this until she arrived in Nome. (She came in 34th of 54 finishers.)

Drobny and her husband Cody Strathe were very upset. So were the Iditarod organizers, and they immediately began discussing ways to make sure this could never happen again.

When the PETA press release came out the next Monday (“Drobny and… Iditarod organizers… can be directly blamed for this animal’s horrific death”), Drobny and Strathe were bombarded with hostile email and phone calls, suggesting that they die in hell.

After Drobny and her lawyer threatened a lawsuit, and PETA issued their apology, Drobny was not appeased. “We are bothered by the obvious attempt to bury this release in a larger piece of PETA propaganda, released on the weekend.” She called the apology a “weak effort” and “they didn’t even know the facts.” She also said they should delete the letter asking for her to be prosecuted for animal cruelty from their website. She told the Alaska Daily News, “It’s disappointing, but it’s not unexpected from that organization, to apologize in the midst of also slamming us.”

I’d say Drobny doesn’t think much of PETA, and doesn’t accept their apology.

PETA still hates the Iditarod (“this cruel race should end”). They also oppose dog sledding, eating meat, and having pets. They view Drobny as a bad person. The apology is insincere, and used to launch more attacks on the Iditiarod. As of today, the letter calling for Drobny’s prosecution is still up. PETA doesn’t regret those mistaken charges enough to take them out of circulation.

What good is an an apology in such a case? Not much. Enemies are still enemies, and are not reconciled.

Drobny has the satisfaction of having backed PETA away from a serious accusation. It can be a bit of revenge to force others to act as they should. To make them retreat a little when they step over the line.

As for PETA, it avoids a lawsuit. Probably. The letter’s still up….

(Here’s Drobny and dogs in the 2012 Yukon Quest.)