There are usually an estimated 5,000-7,000 sled dogs in Lapland during the winter season.(iStock)
The collapse of the tourism industry in Lapland has meant thousands of sledding dogs are out of work.
The pandemic has hit the tourism industry hard in northern Finland, and the collapse in Lapland in particular has meant thousands of sled dogs have been out of work for the past year.
According to a survey by the Finnish Lapland Tourist Board (LME), more than 60 percent of Christmas season reservations for trips to the region were cancelled last year.
There are usually an estimated 5,000–7,000 sled dogs in Lapland during the winter season. Some holiday operators have publicly said that if the survival of their companies is at stake, and they can no longer afford to keep their dogs, and they may have to be put down.