Abandoned dogs up for adoption
Rob Berryhill, a Flathead County Animal Shelter Keeper, visits with some of the husky-mix pups that were abandoned up the Hungry Horse Reservoir last month. (Chris Peterson photo)
By CHRIS PETERSON
Hungry Horse News
Some of the multitude of dogs that were abandoned up the Hungry Horse Reservoir a few weeks ago are now up for adoption.
Five of the dogs are currently up for adoption, including four 7-month old pups.
The pups are a rambunctious, but friendly lot, as they bide their time at the Flathead County Animal Shelter.
The father of the pups is also up for adoption, noted shelter director Cliff Bennett.
The remaining 12 dogs are still in quarantine and being held as evidence, as Flathead County Sheriff detectives continue to investigate the case of who abandoned the dogs on or about Sept. 24.
All told, 18 dogs — all of them husky or husky mixes — were left near Doris Creek, but a woman shot one of the dogs, apparently claiming she thought it was a wolf.
Her case brought national and international outcry and as the story was featured on national networks like TMZ and the Daily Mail of London as she posed with the skinned animal on social media.
Animal cruelty charges are pending against the woman, Sheriff Brian Heino said last week.
Bennett has been director of the animal shelter for 13 years. He said this is not the first case of animal abandonment in his tenure. He recalled one incident where 50 huskies were abandoned several years ago.
The animal shelter has been taking care of the Doris Creek dogs for the past several weeks.
The dogs are currently posted on the shelter’s website as being available, but Bennett noted that folks have already made appointments to see the dogs. Bennett noted that during an appointment, the dog is taken into the yard so the prospective owner can play with it and see if it will get along with other pets the person might have.
These dogs, being huskies, need large homes and lots of exercise. They’re brimming with energy.
“Huskies like to run,” Bennett noted. “You don’t want them for an apartment dog.”
As for the remaining dogs, Bennett said they hope to be able to release them in a couple of weeks or so.
All adopted dogs come with all their vaccinations, are spayed or neutered and implanted with a microchip so if they are lost, they can be tracked down to the rightful owner.
There is a fee to adopt a dog.
For more information or to schedule an appointment go to: https://flathead.mt.gov/department-directory/animal
Then click on “adoptable pets.”