Sunday, May 19, 2013

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Neglected Dogs Rescued, Owner Reportedly Commits Suicide
Sick dogs flown from Galena to Fairbanks over weekend
By Bill McAllister
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In Galena, a tragedy was compounded as the owner of 17 neglected dogs that were rescued reportedly killed himself Sunday night.

The small Alaska huskies were found with inadequate shelter and little or no food and water in a dog yard on public land.

Two dogs were dead at the scene, according to a rescuer, and two others were in extremely weak condition. The non-profit group Loving Companions Animal Rescue got Era Aviation to fly the dogs to Fairbanks in twos and threes through the weekend.

"All the dogs we received are now eating and drinking,” said Donna Buck-Davis of the Fairbanks-based group. “Some of them are very, very thin. But they are happy. They’re just loving, sweet dogs."

Rand Rosencrans, a Galena resident who personally participated in the rescue, said the operation was controversial in the community.

"There was no malicious intent or animosity towards the person who had the yard. They had fallen on some rough times, and it was just a matter of sometimes you just do what you need to do. And that's how this whole thing came down. It was just trying to help, keep these animals from dying out. A death that they don't deserve."

Galena police could not be reached for comment, but the dog owner, whose name has not been released to the public, is said to have killed himself last night.

That information comes from the animal rescuers and multiple reader comments posted on the website of the Fairbanks Daily News-Miner.