Iditarod musher starves 25 dogs

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http://www.ktuu.com/global/story.asp?s=8286742 & ClientType=Printable Valley officials rescue 25 emaciated dogs By Megan BaldinoWednesday, May 7, 2008PALMER, Alaska -- Mat-Su Animal Control officials say they have uncovered one of the worst cases of animal cruelty they have ever seen.Officials found 25 dogs, many of them nearly starved to death and some chained to a short wire, left in a remote location with no food or water. Investigators seized the animals over the last two days.Dr. Katrina Zwolinski is still disturbed by the condition of the dogs taken from a kennel on Lazy Mountain over the last

two days.One dog did not survive."It was evident it had died in the previous day or so," she said.Animal Care Chief Dave Allison says all were emaciated, dehydrated and clearly neglected."If you put your hands on them you can feel pretty much every bone in their body," he said.Allison says the dogs' teeth are broken from trying to eat rocks too. Doug Bartko owns the dogs. He says it's been a rough spring."My system broke down and I was just in the process of getting it back up again," he said.That system is clearly flawed, even for Bartko. His food supply has been rotted salmon heads.It appears Bartko let things go too far and it's not the first time. Court records show he was cited for animal cruelty back in 2006.Iditarod officials say back in 1983, Bartko was disqualified for not adequately caring for his team.Bartko claims Animal Control overreacted and he will try to get his dogs

back.But it could be too late if some of his dogs even survive.Bartko was cited for five counts of interference with an investigation, ten counts of failure to provide humane animal care and his kennel license has been revoked.Additional charges are pending.The borough plans to retain the seized animals.Contact Megan Baldino at mbaldino http://pets.Fortheanimals7/join http://www.myspace.com/fortheanimals7