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From: ajm
Date: 9/26/00
Time: 3:53:39 PM
Remote Name: 208.47.225.16
Just to somewhat reiterate what DH has said, I believe that there is much more to the story than there are no fish and all these people are going to shoot the dogs.
I have a very close friend who spent quite some time in Eagle. He resided there for several years, and knows Dick Cook, one of the names mentioned in the article that started all this. When I first saw the story I took it over to his house to show him. He went on, as usual, to tell me about the way things are/were up there on the River. I think, like Curtis Erhart has said, that this is more of a fish and game vs. subsistance living issue, rather than people killing dogs issue. For some time things have been changing, and subsisitance living isn't accepted by authorities as much as it was, and still should be. Guys like Cook made/make their living by hunting, fishing, and gardening for food, and maybe trapping for an income for all the things you can't shoot or grow. But, it isn't as accepted now for these people to shoot moose, caribou, and the such, and net fish for the dogs. With the inventions of the snowmachine, and growth of sport hunting/fishing, these rules are changed to satisfy the majority, without regard for those whoa re the minority. I think it is a question for these people between what is a governmental right and a God given right. These people have the right to feed themselves and their dogs, but with some of the new rules and policies, this isn't possible. I believe Dickk Cook was quoted saying he did shoot his dogs, only after he was ticketed for illegaly netting fish, and his net being confiscated. If he can't net fish he doesn't feed his dogs. Without dogs, he doesn't trap. Without trapping, no money for neccessary supplies. In effect, his whole way of living, maybe the only one he is comfortable living, is taken away. Before we condemn these people who are thinking about, or have, killed their dogs, we need to take a very good look at the complete picture. And need I point out that the Animal Shelters around the country kill dogs by the millions. We aren't critisizing them for making a tough decision. And the animal shelters have many more options, and access to options, than the people who are located in isolated areas.