Save the Animals, Save the Humans

To get straight to the point, there are plenty of folks out there that see little or no value in saving every darned species of animal on earth. I hear their arguments about how a few types of whales, or subspecies of this or that becoming extinct in the name of progress really won't make much of a difference.
Their argument is quite loud and powerful. Progress means jobs, cars and big beige houses for everyone. Now what's the big deal if some obscure wolverine or warbler gets trampled in the process?
So I've tried to come up with the proper rebuttal. It is true that we don't need every species on earth to eat as food, for obviously we are content with our factory farm swine. It also appears that many, many people really don't have an active interest in nature and if they want to see an animal, Winnie the Pooh will do. So what reasons are left??
I think there is an old saying: one can not live on bread alone. Or something similar. There are just certain things in this life that you may not need in a cognitive sense, but do need in an emotional way. Not many would argue that we don't need art, music, laughter or love in life- ok, some fools probably would. Yet, the point is, these things nurture the soul. And each person has their own soul food.
For me this soul food is the wilderness and all it's magnificent inhabitants. I believe my right to feel this emotion gets trampled on each time folks mock the importance of saving any type of wild creature. For others it would be like giving up laughter for the sake of "progress."
Yes, for some of us, the wilderness really is our daily bread.

The Way Alaskans Love Their Animals

As I am originally from the East Coast, my move to Alaska brought about many surprises. One of these surprises was the cynical attitude towards anything "warm & fuzzy" including animal rights. For example, PETA is considered an organization run by sissy pants bed wetters. The only time I have even seen PETA on a bumper sticker in Alaska is in the context: PETA "people eating tasty animals".... Or how about a Christmas card with a picture of a little girl holding a hunting rifle crouched by a dead reindeer. The caption reads: "only seven more to go- Merry Christmas!"

Yes, this shocked the pants right off my sensible yet snooty East Coast self. It appeared a bit cruel. It seemed especially odd because one can easily see that Alaskans love animals. I have yet to meet a non-pet owner here. Jacked up pick-up trucks come to screeching halts if a dog even thinks of crossing an Alaskan road. So what gives?

I think I have figured it out: Alaskans like their animals wild and treat them that way. What passes as "humane" elsewhere just seems silly in Alaska. Pets don't wear rain coats here, sit around getting fat, or wear bows. So many folks back East want their dogs tame, goofy and content with a squeeze toy. But Alaskans celebrate the wolf in their dog. They want dogs that hunt like mad and run like the wind. Even reindeer aren't primarily considered Santa's helpers, but accepted as sausage material or great entertainment when they run loose & wild during reindeer races.

This difference in opinion probably explains why people outside of Alaska and Alaskans are constantly butting heads when it comes to animal issues. Even I have come around to the Alaskan way of thinking. I'm quite proud when my dog can kill a mouse and understand her roaming behavior better when I consider her a wolf.

I completely support treating animals well, but what's the fun if they all become gentle Disney caricatures ?