The owner of 21 emaciated huskies seized from a Point MacKenzie property has agreed to relinquish almost all of the dogs to the Matanuska-Susitna Borough.

George Bergevin, 57, was allowed to keep one dog but forfeited the rest and was charged with 17 counts of animal cruelty .

The 20 dogs left at the shelter will be evaluated for temperament and will need some time to return to full health before they're released for adoption, said animal control officer Matt Hardwig. Shelter vets believe that should take two weeks, Hardwig said.

"There are two that have some concerns with regards to medical problems," he said.  One, he said, was a dog found with a choke-chain-type collar grown into its midsection. Hardwig couldn't speak to the other dog's ailment.

In addition to the 21 dogs they seized, animal control officers found one dead dog at Bergevin's property. Bergevin explained to them that it was hit by a car.

Four of the 21 were loose on the grounds, not tied up like the others, and able to fend for themselves, leaving them less emaciated than the others. Bergevin was charged with cruelty for the state of the other 17 dogs.

Shelter records show Bergevin was allowed to take one healthy dog home, Hardwig said.  "As far as we know that is the only dog he has," Hardwig said.

Reference:

Anchorage Daily News