Dozens of sick, neglected Siberian huskies seized

Dozens of sick, neglected Siberian huskies seized

By Bryan Johnson

CHELAN COUNTY, Wash. -- The humane society wants animal cruelty charges filed against His Glory Kennels of Leavenworth after animal control officers seized 36 Siberian huskies from the shop.

A veterinarian examined the dogs and said their conditions range from emaciated to starving. The animals had apparently been drinking water wherever they could find it, and they were all suffering from the effects of giardia, a water-borne illness.

Karen Headlee took KOMO 4 News on a tour of the kennels.

She took one of the adult huskies out of the kennel and examined him.

"He should weigh 65 to 70 pounds," she said. The dog weighed 36 pounds.

"He's basically nothing but bones under there. He doesn't have any muscle mass or fat. It's just basically hair," she said.

One week ago, the dogs were living outside Leavenworth. Animal control says pregnant females and pups were in a large ship-style container. Kennels of fiberboard and wire were built in at ground level. The breeding males were reportedly kept in an area of the house with a large kennel structure nearby.

Lisa Schmidt, a neighbor, says last September, another 11 dogs were rescued from the location by animal control officers. (Details surrounding that seizure is a part of a court proceeding scheduled for next month.)

Schmidt has eight dogs and many other rescued animals. She says she has been watching her neighbor's dogs for months.

"I could clearly see they weren't getting any water. Food - she would throw down. The stronger dogs got the food, the weaker ones went without," she said.

Schmidt called the humane society, but she was told they needed more evidence. Then last week, she called to say dogs were killing each other.

She apparently heard the sounds of a pup being bitten by an adult dog. She believes it was a fight over food.

The Humane Society says it can't confirm that, but said all of the dogs had to be given water and food independently because they would so hungry and thirsty that they would fight.

The dogs lived at a place called His Glory Kennels, whose Web site claims the animals were provide "loving care daily."

But the Humane Society says one pup, about six weeks old, has giardia, was malnourished and may lose an eye. They say the eye problem could have been treated easily if it had been examined earlier.

The owner has forfeited all 36 dogs. The Humane Society estimates it will cost $40,000 to 50,000 to treat, feed and house the dogs before they are ready to be adopted.

The owners were not home. KOMO 4 News left messages asking for comment.

The humane society says the prosecutor is expected to make a decision on charges soon.
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