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Humane Society swamped with huskies WEST YELLOWSTONE (AP) - The Gallatin Valley Humane Society is struggling to find homes and care for about 60 sled dogs, most Alaskan huskies, that were reported abused and abandoned at a tourist operation near West Yellowstone. Roger Vincent recently bought Klondike Dreams, which offers dog-sled rides to winter tourists. He took over the business on April 28 and expected to find 60 healthy huskies. Instead, he found 95 dogs, many underweight and suffering from cuts and gashes, in rundown living quarters with ragged and broken fences and a mix of feces and straw for their beds. Vincent said he wants to keep only 24 dogs. He has given away about a dozen, has changed dog food brands to help the dogs put on weight and is cleaning and repairing the kennels. The Humane Society is working with Vincent to find care and homes for the rest. Kibby Horsley, animal control officer for the Gallatin County sheriff, said the sheriff's department is investigating the animals' treatment by the former owner, Dick Schacher, who sold the property to Vincent. Schacher's current whereabouts are unknown, he said. Horsley and Ganay Johnson, the Humane Society director, brought 15 huskies to Bozeman last week, some for medical treatment and others to be placed in animal shelters around the state. More huskies will be sent to other animal shelters for adoption after they are spayed and neutered in an assembly-line clinic planned this weekend. The dogs range in age from a few days to 9 years old. While they are all needed of a bath, the entire lot seems very friendly and comfortable with humans, Johnson said. Copyright 1999 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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