The Ralston Purina plant in Clinton is sending an emergency shipment of more than 22 tons of dog food to Alaska. Sled dogs there are usually fed salmon scraps, but the fish population is way down this year. Clinton plant manager Kurt Rouse says some Alaskans are reportedly on the verge of killing their dogs instead of watching them starve. Rouse says the shipment of dog food is being donated by Ralston Purina to the Alaskans who need it for their animals.The plant responded with the free shipment of “Purina Dog Chow” after one of Alaska’s U-S Senators asked if there was any way the company could help out.The Iowa shipment should be in Alaska early next week.