Breeder arrested, dozens of dogs seized

MONTANA CREEK — A Willow area dog breeder faces 50 counts of cruelty to animals after Mat-Su Borough animal control officials found more than 100 emaciated and dehydrated animals on his property.

Frank Rich, 53, was arrested at about 2:30 Monday afternoon after animal control officers found about 110 dogs on his property, “almost all of which were malnourished and deydrated,” says a report filed by Alaska State Troopers. In addition to the live dogs, another 22 that had already died were also found.

Those dogs apparently died from exposure, starvation and dehydration, the AST report says.

Mat-Su Borough Animal Care and Regulation officers were on the scene Monday evening seizing the 110 dogs that were still alive, a process the borough says in a press statement was expected to take until about midnight.

Animal Care and Regulation Manager Richard Stockdale said most of the dogs are huskies and a few are malamutes adding the main reason for the seizure is for a lack of basic care.

“Most animals are emaciated and dehydrated,” Stockdale said.

The investigation is ongoing and more information will be released as it becomes available, the borough statement says.

A search of Alaska court records shows Rich was convicted in 2007 after pleading no-contest to a host of animal-related charges, including failure to meet kennel or cattery requirements, failure to re-register a kennel or cattery, failure to provide a sanitary enclosure and failure to restrain animals,

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