Congratulations go out to Dr. Tim Hunt, a local veterinarian who recently participated in – and completed – the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race in Alaska.

Hunt finished 45th at 2:45 p.m. EDT one week ago in a total of 12 days, zero hours, 37 minutes and 22 seconds.

Hunt was mushing in his second Iditarod. The first he participated in was in 2009. This year, he ran a team owned by Mitch Seavey, who finished second in the race. Seavey’s son Dallas won the Iditarod for the second straight year.

Overall, the experience was a great one for the man who was voted America’s Favorite Veterinarian in an online contest recently.

“The snow was good, the dogs ran well,” he said in a front page story in The Mining Journal earlier this week. “I kept 16 dogs running for about two-thirds of the race. I got to see the northern lights every night. I brought music and books to listen to, but I maybe listened for about 20 minutes. Mostly, I listened to the sound of my dogs running.”

Hunt took the opportunity to thank his family, friends and supporters, without whom he couldn’t have participated.

“I want to say thanks for all the support I got from people during the race,” he said. “It meant a lot to me.”

Great job, Dr. Tim!