For 104 years, sled dogs have been vital to Denali National Park – not as bygone relics, but as active working teams that still protect the park better than machines can. That program is now struggling after the U.S. Interior Department blocked more than 130 National Park Service partnership agreements worth about $25 million for the upcoming fiscal year.
One of those rejected agreements would have paid for three people to provide daily care for the park’s roughly 30 working sled dogs. While the cuts don’t officially end the sled dog program, they will require the park to find a new funding source to maintain its dog teams.
The radical animal rights group, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), is now attempting to persuade Denali Park Superintendent Brooke Merrell to abandon the century-old sled dog tradition in favor of human-pulled sleds to transport essential supplies across the vast wilderness park during extreme winter conditions.
Given its stated belief that all animals are “non-human persons,” it views animals as being on equal footing with humans and even opposes those who own goldfish or laying hens.
In a Sept. 23 letter by PETA’s head of the “Cruelty Investigations Department,” the animal rights group offered to give the park free cross-country skis, human-pulled sleds and an “eco-friendly electric snowmachine,” provided Merrell agrees to retire all of the sled dogs to “loving homes.”
A statement by PETA claims that the park shouldn’t force dogs to serve human purposes.
The park’s dog sled tradition began in 1922, when the first superintendent, Harry Karstens, purchased seven dogs to patrol newly drawn boundaries.
The park has kept working dog teams ever since. They are the only sled dogs in the United States that help safeguard a national park, its wildlife, scenery, and wilderness character.
According to the park website, this popular tradition relies on rich Alaska history and tradition, dating back to when Native families extensively used sled dogs for trapping, trading, and travel between villages.
ALASKA WATCHMAN DIRECT TO YOUR INBOX
“The dogs, and the kennels where they live, represent important pieces of the American story … it has been this way since the birth of the park,” the website notes.
It adds that sled dogs are more advantageous than snowmachines for many reasons.
“Reliable sled dogs have hearts and brains that machines such as snowmobiles and airplanes do not,” the park explains. “Every kennel’s ranger has a story of wise lead dogs helping them navigate to a patrol cabin in a whiteout or to avoid dangerous ice obscured under snow. The dogs know this landscape well, and they can provide invaluable wisdom that machines cannot.” While a team of sled dogs may be slower than an airplane or a snowmobile, they are arguably more dependable to operate in the extreme conditions of a sub-arctic winter, the park maintains.
This includes traveling in 40-below-zero temperatures when it is nearly impossible to start a motor.
“[A] dog team simply needs a good breakfast, and they are ready and willing to run,” the park website explains.
Dogs are also better at crossing slushy snow and more reliable than a snowmachine that could break down in the backcountry.
“If a machine breaks down in the middle of remote wilderness like Denali, you had better hope you are carrying the right spare parts and tools to fix it!” the park emphasizes. “However, if a sled dog gets sick or injured on the trail, you can always rely on the rest of the team to pull the sled while the injured dog can run loose or ride in the sled until they have recovered.”
The sled dog teams aid winter recreationalists and help monitor the park in a low-impact style that preserves the wilderness character of Denali.
With over 2 million acres of designated wilderness in the park, it’s unclear how PETA’s proposal to use human-powered sleds or electric snowmachines could provide essential services.
PETA, however, has a history of pushing extreme ideology on Alaska, including ongoing campaigns to abolish the Iditarod Sled Dog Race.
Given its stated belief that all animals are “non-human persons,” it views animals as being on equal footing with humans and even opposes those who own goldfish or laying hens.
PETA’s motto claims that “animals are not ours to use” and points out that every animal is “someone.” For anyone who disagrees with PETA’s anthropomorphic view of animals, the group offers free “Empathy Kits” to provide a “lesson in kindness.”
13 Comments
Has PETA ever seen a sled dog team in action? Those dogs LOVE running and they are usually fed better than most humans feed themselves.
PETA needs to give up their animal activism and maybe if they diverted their resources to more humanitarian efforts, they would actually make a difference in this world.
Until then, just more hot air blowing machines who’s only real purpose is to extort bleeding hearts for their money and attention.
why don’t we tell the feds to take a flying leap and use snogos?
I’m quite convinced PETA stands for ignorance of reality. Electric snowmachine? How does that start in -40? How long does any battery hold a charge in that weather? Do they really think that sled dogs will do well as house pets? Then again, when PETA confiscates house pets, they murder them. Another case of people ignoring their own problems to harp on people who are minding their own business and doing nothing wrong.
They don’t want snowmobiles because of the noise. There was even a controversy about a bridge worker flying a flag on his pickup, and there were complaints about the flapping noise. So they need to force Elon Musk to invent an electric snowmobile.
Stupidity has no limits.
I was just going to speak about that flag incident. Isn’t that the person (Denali Park Superintendent Brooke Merrell)
the one who made a big deal about the flag making noise and taking down the American flag for that sicko rainbow flag.
If it is then hopefully this time she will make a wise decision and tell PETA to go pound the proverbial sand.
worth saying again “Stupidity has no limits..” !!!!! AMEN !! We know PETA is running out of causes when they invent this issue – what a useless bunch grifting money from the gullible public.
The PETA minions know zilch about dogs. If any of them even own a dog it is likely borderline, or full on obese, on diet dog food to treat the obesity, chronically bored, and essentially useless except for barking at the neighbors dog. Dogs are highly intelligent critters who thrive on work and stimulation. Most sled dogs, those who regularly get to run, have one of the best lives any sad bored PETA prisoner dog could only dream of.
I would say; go with PETA’s idea of human powered sled pulling as long as they put their efforts where their mouth leads. PETA should have a volunteer program where members willfully volunteer to pull the sleds in -40 temperatures, otherwise FO. Most dogs love having a purpose other than being a petting post. My dog enjoyed pulling my sled loaded with camera gear. How do I know, I asked her… only a dog owner would understand!
PETA can go blow it out their backside.
Here’s a message for PETA: The only good bear is a dead bear.
Has our country always had this many insane people??? Or are we living in an epidemic. No one wants to work anymore. It’s all bizarre.
I would rather get rid of the National Park altogether and open up the land to be bought and sold for private property. The government having land that no one but themselves is allowed to travel on is not a good idea… opens opportunity for selfish/evil leaders to do secret stuff.