Samuel & Diane Walker: Pawsatrack Racing Sled Dogs, Colorado

Dec 30, 2009: Kennel owners released on bail in cruelty case

By Howard Pankratz

Samuel and Diane Walker, owners of the Pawsatrak Racing Sled Dog Kennel near Hartsel, turned themselves in Christmas Day in connection with allegations of animal cruelty.

An arrest warrant was issued for the couple Dec. 23. After their arrest at the Park County Jail in Fairplay, they posted $2,000 bail and were released.

Their next court appearance is 9 a.m. Jan. 4.

The couple have been charged with two counts of felony aggravated cruelty to animals and 30 counts of cruelty to animals, a misdemeanor..." More

Dec 28, 2009: Couple Surrenders In Sled Dog Abuse Case

The couple who owned more than 100 sled dogs seized after they were reportedly found starving in "deplorable conditions" has turned themselves in to face animal cruelty charges, officials said Monday.

Samuel and Diane Walker turned themselves in at the Park County Jail on Christmas Day, according to the Park County Sheriff's Office. They were released after both posted $2,000 in bail.

The Walkers were charged with two counts of aggravated cruelty to animals, a felony, and 30 counts of cruelty to animals, a misdemeanor, officials said..." More

Dec 18, 2009:Starving Huskies Seized In Massive Park County Rescue Operation

About 100 Huskies, raised for sled racing but found starving and living in what has been described as "deplorable conditions," were rescued Thursday as part of a two-day around-the-clock operation.

Park County sheriff's investigators and representatives of the state veterinarian's office seized the dogs from a rural mountain property off County Road 53, south of Hartsel.

The sickest dogs were seized Wednesday and investigators returned Thursday to seize the remainder of the animals, said Park County Undersheriff Monte Gore.

As many as 90 Husky and Husky-mix dogs were underweight and not properly fed, Gore said. Eight of the dogs had died..." More

100 sled dogs rescued in Laurentians

The owner of 100 neglected sled dogs has turned the animals over to an emergency shelter because he could no longer care for them, officials with the SPCA Laurentides-Labelle and Humane Society International said Tuesday.

"The dogs were chained outside without regular access to adequate food, clean water or shelter," Nikolas Gour, a Humane Society International spokesman, said in a statement.

The dogs were being kept in a former home in an undisclosed town in the Upper Laurentians, about 35 kilometres north of Mont-Tremblant. They have now been transported to an emergency shelter in Val Morin, Que., and are being provided with veterinary care, officials said.

The owner agreed to give up the dogs after he was approached by the SPCA, which had received reports about the animals' poor living conditions. But officials said it took months to persuade him to hand the dogs over.

The living conditions could have gotten much worse because about 30 of the seized dogs were pregnant, said Corinne Gonzalez, executive director of the SPCA Laurentides-Labelle.

"Without our intervention, the owner could easily have found himself with 150 more puppies when winter is right around the corner," Gonzalez said.

"The puppies would be dead," Gour said." "First of all the mothers wouldn't have enough food to give proper milk. Also, the owner wasn't really taking care of them."

The owner of the dogs will not face charges, officials said..." More

Malnourished sled dogs rescued in rural Quebec & video

Oct 7, 2009: HSUS-Quebec Companion Animal Welfare Report a Positive Step Forward, but Lacking in Critical Area

Apr 11, 2009: First year of animal cruelty law shows weaknesses