Alaska's Iditarod dogs get neon visibility harnesses after 5 were fatally hit while training

The Iditarod, the annual sled dog race celebrating Alaska’s official state sport, is set to get underway Saturday with a new focus on safety after five dogs died and eight were injured in collisions with snowmobiles while training. For the first time, mushers who line up for the ceremonial start in Anchorage will have the chance to snag light-up, neon harnesses or necklaces for their dogs before they begin the days-long race that takes the dog-and-human sled teams about 1,000 miles over Alaska’s unforgiving terrain. The race officially begins Sunday 75 miles outside Anchorage with 38 teams.