Dogs' plight sparks response

The director of the Flathead County Animal Shelter said there has been a "phenomenal" response from people eager to help with 41 huskies rescued from filthy conditions last week.

"I'd say we've gotten dozens of phone calls and e-mails combined" from people wanting to adopt, donate or volunteer help in caring for the dogs, Kirsten Holland said.

"Donations are coming in. People have been donating kennels," Holland said. "We've had people drop off food, toys and chewies."

While the kennel is eager to hear from people interested in adopting the dogs, Holland said those people have to be patient because the dogs cannot be adopted until they are released by court order.

"They aren't available for adoption yet because they are considered evidence," Holland said.

Juanita Camille McGranor, 66, was arrested June 25 on charges of aggravated cruelty to animals, a felony, after county animal wardens and deputies found 25 dogs in a feces-coated trailer and her mobile home in Evergreen.

McGranor was released on house arrest the next day, and she has consented to having the dogs spayed and neutered. Those procedures will take place today.

In the two days after the dogs were rescued, two females each had litters of eight puppies, bringing the total number of dogs to 41.

Holland said the dogs will be housed at the county shelter south of Kalispell and at the Humane Society of Northwest Montana shelter north of Kalispell.

The county shelter had to improvise a temporary kennel system in an enclosed, outdoors yard to accommodate the dogs, Holland said.

So far, the dogs have been eating donated food, but they will be switched to the shelter's Science Diet food.

Holland estimates they eat about 150 pounds a week, which is about three big bags of dog food that normally would cost about $150 a week.

But the shelter gets its food at no cost, other than shipping, through a national Science Diet shelter nutrition partnership program.

The goal is to eventually place all of the dogs with suitable new homes, and Holland is confident that will happen.

For those who want to help the shelter with the huskies, Holland can be reached at 752-1310 or by e-mail at kholland@flathead.mt.gov

Flathead Shelter Friends, a nonprofit partner with the shelter, is accepting donations that should be earmarked "Husky Rescue" and sent to P.O. Box 567, Lakeside, MT 59922.

The group can be found online at www.flatheadshelterfriends.org.

Reporter Jim Mann may be reached at 758-4407 or by e-mail at jmann@dailyinterlake.com