Yes it does, it speaks volumes about the care the mushes have for their dogs.  They would rather drop dogs at check points for things like sprained wrist, pulled muscles, being sick then to subject that dog to further injury.  A dog dying on the trail is vey sad. However there were 1150 (approximately) dogs on the trail, that's .3% death rate.  As noted, that is more than the last 2 years and less than any group of 1150 dogs sitting I front o a fire place in the same age bracket.