ALASKA - A man who kept 29 wolf hybrids on his property north of Palmer pleaded guilty in Palmer Court on Wednesday.
The animals were kept at tourist business Wolf Country USA, and owner Werner Schuster pleaded guilty to one charge of owning and selling wolf hybrids.
The 81-year-old was ordered to pay a $3,000 fine and was sentenced to 90 days in jail with all 90 days suspended.
In exchange for the guilty plea, charges against his wife, Gail Schuster, 69, and their business, Wolf Country USA Inc., were dismissed.
Last December 29 wolf-hybrids were flown to Lockwood Animal Rescue Center in California because Schuster feared Alaska authorities would kill his animals.
In 2002, Alaska Department of Fish and Game regulation 5 AAC92.030 made it unlawful to possess or sell a wolf hybrid without a permit issued by the State of Alaska.
