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/\ ---- notice the open wound on this bitch - over her right shoulder blade. ----/\

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Colo. State-Vet DVM Keith Roehr said approx 100 very-thin sled dogs of husky-malamute mix were seized Wednesday and Thursday from the Pawsatrak Racing Sled Dog kennel near Hartsel. "We were appalled by the condition of the dogs and want to ensure their care and well-being," said Roehr.

Fred Wegener, Park County Sheriff, said eight dogs were found dead and more than 100 dogs were found "in extremely poor physical condition." Wegener said the dogs had been severely neglected and starving. Roehr said many of the dogs were in "very poor condition... There were a number of very, very thin dogs - extremely thin," said Roehr. Roehr said he expects felony neglect and cruelty charges to be filed against Sam and Diane Walker, who operate the kennel.

The Walkers did not return calls for comment. The seizure of the animals came after Wegener and Park Co. Animal Control Sgt. Bobbi Priestly observed dead dogs at the kennel stuffed into dog food bags on Tuesday. A court-ordered search was authorized Wednesday after Wegener, Priestly and a third Park County Animal Control officer went to the kennel, according to a search warrant affidavit.

At one point, according to the affidavit, the Walkers had 129 dogs, but after counting the dogs on Tuesday, only 94 remained. There were several empty dog houses on the property. In a nearby pit, Wegener and his officers observed a pit with several dead dogs in dog food bags. During the initial search Tuesday, the Park County officers saw several dogs they did not believe would survive the night if not rescued, and those dogs were taken by the officers, according to court documents. Among those dogs was a female mix-breed and an Australian cattle dog puppy.

Ashley Mauceri, spokewoman for the Washington, D.C.-based HSUS, said this afternoon that she has been in touch with Priestly throughout the day and close to 100 dogs were taken from the Walker property today and taken to facilities throughout Colorado. "I was told they were extremely thin, and many were on the brink of death," said Mauceri, alluding to her conversation with Priestly.

According to the search warrant affidavit, the facility by the Walkers first came to the attention of Park Co. authorities in July 2006, when a large and very emaciated husky was found wandering near the Walker property.
The husky was taken to the Teller County Veterinary Clinic for a full examination. The dog was found to be emaciated, dehydrated with Dermatitis on the feet and suffering from neglect.

At that time in 2006, members of the Park Co. Sheriffs Office conducted a search of the Walker's kennel and found the majority of the dogs to be malnourished, according to the search warrant affidavit filed yesterday.

Christi Lightcap, spokeswoman for the Colorado Department of Agriculture, said officials from the Colorado Veterinarian Office went to Park County on Wednesday to survey the condition of the dogs following an anonymous tip to the Park County Sheriff that the dogs were living in deplorable conditions.

"The tip was that were some dead dogs and other dogs in severe need of assistance," said Lightcap. "From what I have seen of the pictures it is appalling the conditions these dogs are in." Roehr said four of his employees are at the kennel and will attempt to determine when and how the eight dogs died. He said his employees will be court witnesses after the charges are filed.

Dr. Kate Anderson with the Colorado Dept of Ag/ Bureau of Animal Protection scored the animals on the Henneke Body Condition scoring system and she determined that several of the animals scored one or less on a scale of 1 to nine, said Wegener. ACOs initially removed the 30 dogs that were rated in the poorest condition. The 70 remaining animals were removed today to facilities throughout the state. They will eventually be put up for adoption.

Howard Pankratz: 303-954-1939 or hpankratz@...


Read more: Cruelty charges expected over Park Co. sled dogs - The Denver Post

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