Sled dogs overwhelm Mat-Su animal shelter
Originally published Friday, May 9, 2008 at 8:07 a.m.
Updated Friday, May 9, 2008 at 11:35 a.m.
PALMER — The animal shelter in the Matanuska-Susitna Borough is reducing adoption fees in hopes of freeing up room for 25 sled dogs.
The dogs, many of them suffering from malnutrition and dehydration, were rescued this week from Doug Bartko’s property on Lazy Mountain in Palmer.
Bartko has been cited for five counts of interference with an investigation and 10 counts of failure to provide humane animal care.
Bartko denies reports by the borough that some of the dogs were so thin and emaciated they had to be given fluids intravenously until they could stomach solid food.
“I had one who wouldn’t eat commercial (dog food) and I just mixed it with a little water and he finished it up fine,” Bartko said.
Animal control officers took the dogs Monday and Tuesday from Bartko’s dog lots.
Nick Uphus, an assistant at the shelter, said they were worried about some of the dogs but all the dogs made it through Wednesday night.
“There were a couple of dogs we were worried about, but we put them on warm blankets and gave them fluids,” and they survived, Uphus said.
He said people interested in adopting Bartko’s dogs won’t be able to until the case against the musher is resolved, which could take months.
In the meantime, the shelter has reduced its adoption fees for other pets in an attempt to free up room for the sled dogs.
Bartko has been told his kennel license will be revoked.
Anyone interested in adopting an animal from the shelter can call 746-5500, or go online at www.petharbor.com to view what is available.
Comments
Alaska really needs to take a long and hard look at the treatment of dogs and animals. We see this over and over, someone has xxx many dogs and the dogs aren't cared for. Most of the dogs end up euthanized. If Bartko is indeed guilty of failing to care for his animals, he should be penalized financially as well as spend some time in the pen.
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