Volunteers rescue 35 dogs

  • By KAYLEE OSOWSKI
  • Wednesday, August 13, 2014 10:03pm
  • News
One of the 35 dogs rescued from a Knight Drive home just outside of Soldotna on Monday sits outside at Alaska's Extended Life Animal Sanctuary in Nikiski. Photo by Kaylee Osowski/Peninsula Clarion

One of the 35 dogs rescued from a Knight Drive home just outside of Soldotna on Monday sits outside at Alaska's Extended Life Animal Sanctuary in Nikiski. Photo by Kaylee Osowski/Peninsula Clarion

With bellies still swollen from a lack of food, 35 dogs are on their way to recovery after being rescued Monday.

The dogs are currently housed at the Alaska’s Extended Life Animal Sanctuary in Nikiski. On Monday night two Soldotna residents along with Tim Colbath and Sue Whipp, who run the non-profit sanctuary, and volunteers from the Domestic Animal Protection League of the Kenai Peninsula rescued the dogs on Knight Drive just outside of Soldotna city limits.

“They look so much better,” Whipp said on Wednesday. The dogs are becoming more active with proper nourishment.

The voluntary rescue took place from about 8-10 p.m. The dogs had been housed in a 10–by-20-foot room and most of the animals likely had never been outside, Colbath said.

The crew lined up kennels and loaded the dogs with little hassle and the owners were grateful for the help, Colbath said.

“They were doing the best they could,” Whipp said about the owners, who willingly surrendered the animals.

Krista Schooley and Tabitha Walker, both of Soldotna, found out about the situation that had been going on for years via a Facebook post and decided to do something about it. A few days after reading the post, they went to the house and talked to the owners, offering help.

“It took two people in the community who just cared enough to actually knock on their door and be human beings with a loving heart and not judging them for what they are doing, but saying, ‘Hey, here we are we want to help,’” Schooley said.

The duo called the sanctuary to help collect and provide a space for the rescued dogs.

Of the 35 dogs — primarily a mix of miniature huskies and border collies — nine are four weeks old, 11 are 1-week-old puppies and two of the dogs are pregnant.

While most of the dogs were hungry, they appear to be in good health and are social, Whipp said. However, one dog is special needs and is being cared for outside of the sanctuary.

In two days, the sanctuary has gone through two large bags of dog food to feed the rescued dogs. Colbath and Whipp are working to get the dogs bathed, de-wormed and to the veterinarian for check ups and to get spayed or neutered.

Within a month the sanctuary hopes to start adopting out the dogs.

Colbath and Whipp estimate the rescue will cost more than $15,000 with food, medications and spay and neutering costs.

Anyone who is interested in donating time or money to help the 35 rescued dogs can call the sanctuary at 907-776-3614 or post on the Knight Drive Dog Pack Rescue Effort Facebook group page.

“We really need help,” Whipp said.

Whipp said the sanctuary is aware of other hoarding situations and wants to be able to help, but needs animal control assistance. Alaska State Troopers, she said, don’t have the time or space to rescue this many dogs.

The rescue group will be at Kaladi Brothers Coffee on Kobuk Street at 7 p.m. today to talk about the rescue and the caretaking efforts with interested community members.

 

Kaylee Osowski can be reached at kaylee.osowski@peninsulaclarion.com.

One of the 35 dogs rescued from a Knight Drive home just outside of Soldotna on Monday pokes his nose outside a fence at Alaska's Extended Life Animal Sanctuary in Nikiski. Photo by Kaylee Osowski/Peninsula Clarion

One of the 35 dogs rescued from a Knight Drive home just outside of Soldotna on Monday pokes his nose outside a fence at Alaska’s Extended Life Animal Sanctuary in Nikiski. Photo by Kaylee Osowski/Peninsula Clarion

Sue Whipp of the Alaska's Extended Life Animal Sanctuary in Nikiski feeds the 35 dogs rescued from a home on Knight Drive near Soldotna Monday night. Photo by Kaylee Osowski/Peninsula Clarion

Sue Whipp of the Alaska’s Extended Life Animal Sanctuary in Nikiski feeds the 35 dogs rescued from a home on Knight Drive near Soldotna Monday night. Photo by Kaylee Osowski/Peninsula Clarion

More in News

Montessori materials sit on shelves in a classroom at Soldotna Montessori Charter School on Tuesday, Sept. 20, 2022 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Education debate draws state attention to peninsula charter schools

Dunleavy would like to see a shift of authority over charter school approvals from local school districts to the state

The Nikiski Senior Center stands under sunlight in Nikiski, Alaska, on Thursday, March 14, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Support available for community caregivers

Nikiski Senior Center hosts relaunched Kenai Peninsula Family Caregiver Support Program

Flags flank the entrance to Gov. Mike Dunleavy’s office on Thursday, March 14, 2024, in Juneau, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Dunleavy vetoes bipartisan education bill

Senate Bill 140 passed the House by a vote of 38-2 and the Senate by a vote of 18-1 last month

The Alaska State Capitol on Friday, March 1, 2024, in Juneau, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
House passes bill altering wording of sex crimes against children

The bill is sponsored by Rep. Sarah Vance, R-Homer

Ben Meyer and Brandon Drzazgowski present to the Soldotna and Kenai Chambers of Commerce at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex in Soldotna, Alaska, on Wednesday, March 13, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Kenai Watershed Forum gives update on streambank restoration

The watershed forum and other organizations are working to repair habitat and mitigate erosion

The entrance to the Kenai Police Department, as seen in Kenai, Alaska, on April 1, 2020. (Photo by Brian Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion)
Kenai resident arrested on charges of arson

Kenai Police and Kenai Fire Department responded to a structure fire near Mountain View Elementary

Sen. Jesse Bjorkman, R-Nikiski, speaks in opposition to an executive order that would abolish the Board of Certified Direct-Entry Midwives during a joint legislative session on Tuesday, March 12, 2024 in Juneau, Alaska. (Ashlyn O'Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Legislature kills most of Dunleavy’s executive orders in rare joint session

All the proposed orders would have shuffled or eliminated the responsibilities of various state boards

Nikiski Middle/High School student Maggie Grenier testifies in favor of a base student allocation increase before the Alaska Senate Education Committee on Monday, Feb. 12, 2024, in Juneau, Alaska. (Screenshot)
Students report mixed responses from lawmakers in education discussions

Delegates from the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District lobbied the Alaska Legislature for more state funding and other education priorities

A child waves from the back of a truck as the 32nd annual Sweeney’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade proceeds down Fireweed Street in Soldotna, Alaska on Friday, March 17, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
St. Patrick’s Day parade set for Sunday

The annual Sweeney’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade, hosted by the Soldotna Chamber of Commerce, kicks off at 2 p.m.

Most Read