Death-row dogs?

58 animals from Sutton home face uncertain future

July 2, 2006

By DARRELL L. BREESE and Mary AMES Frontiersman

PALMER - A multitude of animals removed from a Sutton woman's home have, in effect, shut down the services of the Mat-Su Borough Animal Shelter for everyone else.

The borough received a complaint of animal cruelty at a residence in Sutton on June 22, including allegations that many birds and dogs were living in their own filth, and that cats and dogs were killing birds, according to a press release from the borough.

Animal Care officers discovered the animals were being housed in unsanitary and hazardous conditions, living in their own feces, urine and filth at 22526 East Carroll Drive, the report said.

When confronted with the numerous alleged violations of borough code, property owner Marcie Doppelt, 60, ended the conversation and asked the officers to leave, the report said.

Officers returned June 27 with Alaska State Troopers and a court-issued search-and-seizure warrant and removed 39 dogs, one cat, 17 live birds and one dead bird, the report said.

&#8220This is the most animals that we've brought into the shelter at one time,” said Dave Allison, chief animal control officer. &#8220In the past we've housed larger numbers of animals on site, but that wasn't a possibility in this situation.”

Officers also discovered that the owner had removed 12 peacocks from the property to an undisclosed location, the report said.

All the animals removed are now at the Mat-Su Animal Shelter being treated for a variety of conditions, including malnourishment, ear infections, eye irritations, deeply soiled and matted fur and a variety of other conditions.

&#8220We're hopeful that all the animals will recover,” Allison said. &#8220The biggest concern is for some of the birds. The vet has been providing care, and we hope in time that they all will return to full health.”

By Friday afternoon, most of the dogs had been cleaned at least once, provided with clean blankets and were settling into their new digs. German shepherds, Cocker spaniels and Springer spaniels filled the available kennels, some barking, some sleeping and some sitting, quiet and stoic, awaiting their fate. Most were adult dogs, but there were some puppies, too.

&#8220It will take several cleanings to get all the feces and dirt out of their coats,” Allison said. &#8220We can't adopt them out until the court tells us we can.”

Allison said he had lost count of how many dogs he and his staff had cleaned by 3 p.m. Friday, and they hadn't yet finished.

&#8220We had to take a break and let the stench get out of the building,” he said.

Court records show 70 charges of animal cruelty and one charge of failure to register a kennel filed against Doppelt in the case scheduled for a non-jury trial July 6 in Palmer District Court.

The birds, including parrots, macaws, conures, a peacock and a duck, were easier to clean than the dogs.

&#8220Birds clean themselves,” Allison said. &#8220The problem was their cages were stacked on top of each other. They were defecating on each other.”

Two macaws perched in a clean cage.

&#8220They're mean,” Allison said. &#8220They haven't been socialized, and they'll take your finger off.”

Allison said the animals could be adopted if the defendant releases ownership to the shelter.

&#8220It's going to really add an extra burden to the facility and stretch the staff,” Allison explained. &#8220The shelter is already inadequate for the size of the borough, taking in all the animals at once filled things up rather quickly.”

The shelter was more short of space than usual due to renovation of the facility, and the 58 additional animals have stretched the building's capacity and the staff's morale, he said.

One of his staff said the animals arrived at the shelter about 3 p.m. and it took until 10 p.m. to get them all fed, watered and inspected by a veterinarian, .

Allison asked borough residents for patience with the situation at the shelter. He and his staff have been working from 6 a.m. to midnight for several days, he said.

&#8220We are basically getting the s— kicked out of us by people who want to get rid of their animals,” he said. &#8220We have a very, very full shelter, and it has come to the point where we have to decide what animals to kill.”

Anyone who wants to ease the burden at the shelter can donate doggie treats, toys, clean blankets and dedicated cash donations, Allison said.

Donations are tax deductible and would help immensely. One packet of bird food cost $35, he said.

Allison speculated on how the situation at Doppelt's home could have gone on for so long with no one filing a complaint.

&#8220It's a pretty rural area,” he said. &#8220But we hope for prosecution and a conviction. This behavior shouldn't be tolerated.”