Mike Chilinski was sentenced last week to serve 30 years in the Montana Department of Corrections after a jury found him guilty of 91 counts of animal cruelty in the lives of 176 malamutes seized in October 2011 by theLewis and Clark Humane Society in Helena and the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS).
According to KRTV.com, the judge suspended 25 years of the prison term, but also banned Chilinski, 52 of Helena from owning or caring for any dogs for the next 30 years, and to surrender all of the dogs to Jefferson County.
When the dogs were seized, most were undernourished, sick, and injured. The HSUS donated $377,000 towards the care and rehabilitation of the dogs and were instrumental in the legal proceedings against Chilinski.
Helena, Montana
The extended prison sentence is the longest jail term anyone convicted of animal cruelty has ever received in Montana, and Gina Wiest, executive director of the Lewis and Clark Humane Society hopes this delivers a strong message to substandard breeders.
The Independent Record says all of the dogs will now be available for adoption. For over a year 40 males, 61 females, and 75 puppies have been under the care of the Lewis and Clark Humane Society with their own special task force of caregivers who have helped the dogs gain weight and become socialized. The dogs will be spayed and neutered, and with the help of the American Malamute Assistance League, many of the dogs will be transported to other states including Virginia, Washington, and California to be adopted. Approximately 40 of the dogs will remain with Lewis and Clark Humane Society for adoption.
It is estimated that the costs for the care of the dogs has exceeded $500,000. A restitution hearing is scheduled for Jan. 2, 2013.
Follow the incredible work of the Lewis and Clark Humane Society on Facebook by clicking here.
Congratulations malamutes. Your silent voices were heard loud and clear.
Please call 406-442-1660 for more information about adopting any of these dogs.
If you would like to continue receiving the latest news on pet issues and how we can help those who cannot speak, please click the "Subscribe" icon.
No comments:
Post a Comment