The Snowmachine and the Dog

The big news in the world of sled dog racing is Lance Mackeys recent encounter with a snow machine near Nome, Alaska. (In Alaska snow mobiles are called snow machines) His most prized racing pooch, Zorro, has been seriously injured.
The obvious issue is how and when to mandate limitations of snow machine use near sled dog races and this is causing some spirited arguments. In effect: who owns the trails- the local residents on their machines or the "visiting mushers". Then all sorts of venom gets spewed about drunks, racing, common courtesy, safety, etc...Obviously at least attention has been brought to this issue. Some defend the locals right to zoom around in the middle of the night (Mackeys dog was hit around midnight) But where in the world are they going that is so important at that time & why can't the sled dogs take temporary priority?? In my opinion, nighttime use is the primary concern.
The other interesting topic that stems from this controversy is why do so many people become so concerned over an injured sled dog?? Here in Alaska it was front page news, so of course some sour-pusses needed to point out that everyone cries over a dog, but ignores all the suffering of human kind blah, blah....
So I put some thought into this. It is no secret that people often have more sympathy towards animals than humans, so what gives? I have two theories.
One is that animals are perceived as innocent victims, subject to all of our "top of the food chain" nonsense, so we naturally throw some additional empathy their way.
Second theory: there are BILLIONS of human beings on this earth. Just too many for our little heads to even begin and sympathize with. Meanwhile, so many animals are rare and in limited supply. Like in Alaska: 8,000 wolves vs. 600,000 residents, which is more interesting from a rarity point of view? Same goes for whales or sled dogs, just not that many around, which increases our interest. Again, these are just my theories...