How Alaska Understands Animals

Anybody who spends a lot of time in Alaska begins to notice that a common theme is knocking animal rights groups. People love their faux PETA "people for eating tasty animals" bumper stickers, or others wear PETA t-shirts while running with the reindeer. (obviously a non-PETA approved activity). Usually at this time of year (Iditarod season) there is also plenty of talk of the "idiot wing-nuts" and their anti-sled dog baloney...
Having myself formerly been part of the other world also known as the "lower 48" I understand why the perception is different up here.
Part of it is definitely the sheltered suburban world of many Americans. I mean if all you ever see when it comes to animals, is an occasional stray cat--well there is room for a lot of sentiment. What happens when you are in a more "wild/frontier" type climate is there is more "reality". You understand that every piece of meat you eat had a mother. However, I put the world reality in quotes because although the animal situation is different here, it is not necessarily natural either.
Yes, sled dogs are tied to chains most of the time. But they also get to run and have fun. I know a lot of city dogs are barely allowed out of apartments dying of heart disease, let alone ever getting the chance to run in the wilderness and roll in fresh snow. And yes, the days of whips and forced running are over. Most newer mushers adore their sled teams and treat them as pets.

The other "animal" thing up here is hunting. If you can't tolerate hunting, and you live in Alaska, you basically need to shut up or move out. However, that does not mean that I feel the state game board is not out of line. Part of their fake "reality" is believing that it is still 1880 frontier land and that white man needs to subsistence hunt. I mean give me a break, people driving $45,000 RV's to hunting grounds are not hunting to "live" they do so for fun and because they choose game meat over raising their own chickens or bison. Bug game meat is too low in fat to live off of anyhow.
But this "myth" of subsistence hunting, gives the Alaska game board fake self-righteousness when it comes to the wolf kill program. They kill wolves in the name of increasing moose & caribou numbers. But it is just so ridiculously unnatural to cull wolves in areas where people basically do road-accessible hunting. Would you dare poison the worlds sharks to increase fish stocks? No, it doesn't make sense. But when the Alaska Board of game kills wolves they feel it is ok to play God.