Packed courtroom hears not guilty plea in high-profile Willow dog case

A packed Palmer courtroom was filled with raw emotion on May 6, echoing with the weight of 24 felony charges of animal cruelty leveled against 35-year-old Misty Rehder.

Appearing via telephone while she remains in custody at the Hiland Correctional Center, Rehder entered a plea of not guilty. Each count is a Class C felony, punishable by up to five years in prison and a $25,000 fine.

With bail still set at $25,000, the court granted her request for a public defender, after telling the judge that she had only made around $160 in the last four months. The hearing moves forward a case that has deeply shaken the community.

Courtroom Presence

The case has sparked significant public outrage and heartbreak. Animal welfare advocates and concerned citizens attended the arraignment to "give a voice" to the 23 deceased dogs. During a scheduled hearing on Monday that was later postponed, many held up signs with photographs of the dogs that perished at the kennel.

District Attorney Trina Spears, who is prosecuting the case for the state, thanked the members of the public in attendance, and while she cannot publicly comment on the case, said she has been reading the many emails that have come into her office. One member requested no plea agreement be made in the case.

Concerns Over Bail

There has been significant public debate regarding Rehder’s bail amount, with some residents arguing that $25,000 is too low given the severity of the charges and the number of animal deaths.

At the arraignment, the public defender’s office suggested a future bail review to lower Rehder’s $25,000 bond. However, this has met local opposition. Kathleen Frederick, an attorney and dog musher tracking the case, argues against a reduction due to the severity of the charges. Alyssa Buser—one of the residents who first alerted Borough Animal Control to the dogs’ condition in January—likewise believes the bail should remain at its current amount.

“Myself and others in the Talkeetna area are concerned about that because she does not live far from us and we don’t want her back out in the community.”

Trial Date Set

Though the trial date has been set for the first week of June, many anticipate that with Rehder being assigned a public defender, there will be continuances and postponements, dragging the case out, something Buser also anticipates.

“I’m glad that the case is moving forward,” she said. “I’m sure that it will get dragged out, but I’m glad it’s moving along. It’s just going to be a really long process for everyone, so I think it’s really important that the people who want to see justice continue to support this, that it doesn’t lose traction, because this is really important.”

Demands for Justice

Frederick says that there’s been a history of animal cases where the penalties have been lenient, including a 2023 incident in which three sled dogs were killed and another seriously injured when a snow machiner hit a dog team on the Denali Highway. The operator of the snow machine was charged only with reckless driving.

In a separate incident that same year, a team being driven by a handler for five-time Iditarod champion Dallas Seavey was hit, killing 2 dogs and injuring several others. In the incident, the operator of the machine was cited for negligent driving.

More recently, Alaska State Troopers arrested Angela Walker on a warrant for 3 counts of Cruelty to Animals back in January. She was remanded and held on $2,500 bail.

“There’s just been a history of horrific crimes and people just getting a slap on the wrist,” she said. “This one is just so horrific…I think people want to see more justice here.”

Despite the possibility of a plea deal, Buser hopes to see Rehder held fully accountable. “We don’t do this. We don’t treat animals this way. There is help, and she was offered help and there is no excuse for intentionally starving your dogs.”

Update on Woody

Meanwhile, Woody, one of the two surviving dogs from the Caswell case, is now under the care of an animal rescue team in Fairbanks, who reported on social media that while he endured unthinkable, gut wrenching trauma, Woody has persevered. “He has come such a long way and is improving everyday - gaining weight back and learning to trust,” the team wrote. “We are so proud of him and feel honored to be able to guide him through this next chapter. His story is just beginning and we are going to make sure it is a good one from here on out.”

Each count of animal cruelty carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a $25,000 fine.

Rehder’s next court appearance is scheduled for a pretrial conference on May 15. Her trial is set for the week of June 1.