“She gave 110% of her heart” Dog owners work to end string of suspected dog poisonings

Dogs. They have many titles-man’s best friend, loyal and trusted companion, and beloved member of the family. That’s what makes a string of suspected dog poisonings in Equestrian Acres so disturbing.

“This has just been devastating to us,” says Krysta Voskowsky, who lost her beloved dog, Mishka, to a poisoning incident last month.

“She gave 110% of her heart, she just had so much love,” recalls Voskowsky, adding that while her dog, a 5-year-old Alaskan Malamute, was known to have a case of wanderlust, sometimes seen throughout the neighborhood, often playing with other kids in the area, Mishka always knew where home was.

“We do everything to keep our animals safe. We have GPS on their dog collars, keep items out of reach, have them microchipped. We have a fenced yard. She was a part of our family, and to have this happen…I don’t feel safe.”

Residents of the Equestrian Acres neighborhood in Palmer are growing increasingly concerned as three dogs have died by a suspected to be an amphetamine poisoning.

Even more concerning is that all three dogs were poisoned while secured in their fenced-in backyards during daylight hours.

“This is the third dog in the neighborhood to die of this specific poisoning since February, meanwhile many others have suffered serious illness from the poison.”

On March 1, Voskowsky noticed that her dog was not acting herself, unsteady on her feet and unable to eat, instead vomiting at the site of her kibble. Voskowsky and her partner Shane Semenuk immediately took Mishka to the veterinarian, where she later passed away.

“We had no idea that she wouldn’t be coming home. Her death was painful, and this has been devastating, and it has made us nervous to let our other animals out of sight. It has put everything into question and left me suspicious,” says Voskowsky.

According to documents submitted by Voskowsky, Mishka suffered a seizure before passing. The veterinarian confirmed after Mishka’s death, that Mishka “popped positive for amphetamines.”

Voskowsky said that the veterinarian also verbally confirmed that although she could not share specific details, approximately 4 or 5 other dogs had been seen exhibiting similar symptoms and were treated for methamphetamine poisoning likely from “drugs tossed in their yard.” The status of those dogs is unknown.

"We are actively working with Palmer Police, Alaska State Troopers, and local community members to solve this crime. The torture and poisoning of an animal is a Class C Felony in the State of Alaska," Voskowsky said. They also filed a report with the Matanuska Susitna Borough Animal Control.

Meanwhile, Voskowsky is concerned about the method of poisoning-amphetamines-and what that means as far as it possibly being consumed or made in the surrounding area.

“What concerns me is that this is meth. There was a lot of attention on the meth problem here in the Valley in 2018, but not so much. If animals are dying from meth, that means there is still a problem. This points to a bigger problem.”

Now, Voskowsky and her neighbors are working to prevent other pet owners from suffering the same loss. She has gone door-to-door for information, and while there has been some hesitancy, at least 1 neighbor has come forward with footage from a video doorbell that shows suspicious vehicles around the time of the dogs becoming ill.

“I’m still deciding whether or not to post it to social media. I don’t want to do anything that could possibly interfere with any investigation,” she said.

She has also started a GoFundMe campaign to raise money for a reward to be given to someone who helps catch the serial dog-killer. In less than a day the fundraiser surpassed its goal of $500. To date, they have raised $850.

In the meantime, some signs and symptoms of amphetamine poisoning to look for in pets include dilated pupils, vomiting, dizziness, restlessness, excessive drooling, elevated blood pressure, and seizures. If dog and cat owners witness any of these symptoms, contact the local veterinarian immediately. Symptoms will appear within 1-3 hours of consumption.

“Our pets are sometimes better than humans with the unconditional love they give. Mishka had been bounced around before finding a home, and she had so much love to give. She didn’t deserve this. No animal deserves this.”

If anyone has any information, please visit www.matsucrimestoppers.org, or call Mat-Su Crime Stoppers at (907) 745-3333. Tips can be made anonymously.

For more information about the GoFundMe campaign, visit www.gofundme.com/f/reward-fund-to-stop-dog-killer