Anchorage Daily News

WASILLA -- Acting on complaints, the Matanuska-Susitna Borough Animal Care took in 25 emaciated dogs this week from two properties on Lazy Mountain, east of Palmer.

Many of Doug Bartko's dogs are so thin and dehydrated they needed intravenous fluids before they could stomach food, according to Patty Sullivan, borough public affairs director.

Bartko, who calls himself a recreational musher, was cited for five counts of interference with an investigation and 10 counts of failure to provide humane animal care.

He was also served notice that his kennel license could be revoked and that the borough intends to keep the seized animals. More charges are pending, including possible cruelty charges.

"This has turned into a nightmare," Bartko said from his home Wednesday. "I've been under some financial stress."

He said he had friends in Anchorage who had been giving him frozen fish for his dogs, about a ton once or twice a month. But he said his truck broke down and he was unable to get the fish.

"I had some fish and some commercial food," he said. "But I was down for about three weeks and some dogs dropped weight."

Officers contacted Bartko on Friday, but he refused to let them inspect the dogs, according to the borough. The officers left dog food with Bartko.

"I was appreciative of that," Bartko said. "I thought they were trying to work with me."

Monday the officers returned to Bartko's home on Lazy Mountain Drive with a search warrant and removed the dogs. They reported finding 12 malnourished dogs and three dead dogs that were tossed over an embankment on the property. The officers also found evidence that other dogs had been recently removed.

"I took some dogs to a different location to give them some care," Bartko said. "I didn't want to show them the remote place. They just did a hit job on me. There was some distrust there, I guess."

TIP LEADS TO MORE DOGS

A tip Tuesday led officers to another property off Wolverine Road where a dead dog was seen being removed, according to Sullivan. Nine dogs were seized there. All were emaciated, dehydrated and many had injuries.

Tuesday, officers tried to contact Bartko at his residence and found four more emaciated and dehydrated dogs.

The 25 husky-mix dogs are under veterinary care for a variety of untreated injuries, as well as dehydration, malnutrition and parasites, according to the borough. The cause of death for the one dog is under investigation.

Bartko, whose family he said has run dogs since the 1970s, was convicted in 2006 of animal cruelty. He said that conviction was a mistake because the dog was dying of cancer and not malnourished.

"We had her out front and were just saying our last goodbyes. Trying to make her comfortable."

He said the same relative who turned him this time, turned him in in 2006 as well.

Calls to the animal shelter Wednesday evening were not returned.

Find T.C. Mitchell at adn.com/contact/tcmitchell or 907-352-6716.

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