| 12/23/2009 8:39:00 AM | Email this article • Print this article |
|
| Chester, a 10 year-old Alaskan husky, was reunited with his former owner, Tammy Sullivan of Laramie, Wyo., Tuesday at Ark-Valley Humane Society after Sullivan saw a picture of him on a national newscast.
Courtesy photo
|
|
Husky reunited with previous owner
Chester, a 10 year-old emaciated Alaskan husky, was reunited with his former owner Tuesday at Ark-Valley Humane Society in Buena Vista after a four-day search triggered by a national newscast photograph.
A sled dog racer for more than 15 years, Tammy Sullivan, 50 of Laramie, Wyo., was watching Denver Channel 9 News coverage of the Park County Animal Control rescue of more than 100 sled dogs near Hartsel in South Park.
"Oh my gosh, that's my dog! That's Chester," Sullivan said she exclaimed during the newscast.
Six years ago while living in Bailey, Sullivan said she faced financial problems and placed Chester at Pawsatrack Racing Sled Dog Kennel owned by Samuel and Diane Walker near Hartsel.
Sullivan said she could not take care of 12 dogs she had then.
"I had known (the Walkers) for years. They didn't have a highly competitive team, but their race dogs looked good. The Walkers were doing just fine," Sullivan said.
After seeing Chester on the news Dec. 16 when he weighed 46 pounds because of starvation, Sullivan said she spent four days calling shelters to locate him.
Eventually, she searched the Ark-Valley Web site and saw a photo of Chester.
"I immediately called the shelter and asked about Chester. Did he have a bum knee? Was he neutered? After they said yes, I just knew it was him," she said.
Sullivan drove from Laramie to Buena Vista and back Tuesday to adopt Chester.
"You're damn right he's staying with us. He deserves a better home - he can be a couch potato with us."
She said she took Chester immediately to her regular veterinarian for an examination and blood tests.
"I am just heartsick. I feel completely to blame. He wasn't safe," Sullivan said.
Chester gained two pounds in six days at the shelter in Buena Vista. He weighs 48 pounds which is "better than most" of the other dogs rescued in South Park.
Alice Lively, Ark-Valley assistant manager, said a dog the size of Chester should weigh 60-65 pounds.
Sullivan has about six sled dogs, mostly retired, in Laramie.
"The mushing (sled dog) community is really upset over this. It's not how we keep our animals. We'd starve ourselves before starving our animals."
Sullivan said she saw Samuel Walker at a sled dog race in Leadville during the first week of March.
"He had no dogs with him and said Chester was doing fine," she said.
Park County Undersheriff, Monte Gore, told The Mountain Mail Tuesday the Walkers could face 108 counts of animal cruelty.
Park County Animal Control personnel removed 30 dogs in the poorest condition Dec. 16 and the remaining 70 dogs Dec. 17. Eight dogs were found dead.
Gore said more dead dogs could be found in graves when the ground thaws.
The rescued sled dogs were sent to Humane Societies in Longmont, Boulder, Colorado Springs, Cañon City and Buena Vista. A complete list of shelters where the dogs were placed is at www.parkco.us.
With Chester gone, Ark-Valley has 13 of the rescued dogs. Nancy Best, animal care technician, said the rescued dogs are being fed four times a day.
"We've had an outpouring of community response," she said.
People interested in donating to the emergency medical fund, becoming foster parents or adopting the dogs may call 395-2737.
Best said people will be put on a list and potential foster parents will be contacted after Christmas. People who offer themselves as potential adopters of dogs will be contacted after the dogs are in better health.
|
Reader Comments
Posted: Wednesday, December 30, 2009
Article comment by:
dale hoffman
It is my hope that the Walkers are prosacuted to the fullest extent with no plea bargining. They deserve a harse punishment and hopefully this will send a clear message to other animal abusers. I am a volunteer at Arc Valley in Buena Vista and have spent extra time there over the past 2 weeks helping with the care of the rescured huskeys. It would break the heart of anyone, not just dog lovers to have seen the physical and emotional conditions of these wonderful dogs when they first came to the shelter. I am happy to report that they are doing much better now but it will take more time and caring for them to fully recover.
|
Article Comment Submission Form
|
