Pack of wild dogs tracked near Farmers Loop transfer station
Published Friday, July 11, 2008
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Stumble It!FAIRBANKS -- When Fairbanks North Star Borough Animal Control officers checked their traps outside the Farmers Loop transfer station early this week, they found a wild dog that they were starting to think was just a rumor.
Animal control officers caught the large, blond dog in a live trap baited with strong-smelling cat food after searching the site several times a day without any sign of a pack of dogs that has been rumored to be living near the transfer station.
“By all indications, that dog had never been touched by a human being,” said Matt Ruger, manager of the animal shelter.
“He was completely wild. He acted almost like a wolf,” he said.
During the past three weeks, the shelter received as many as 25 phone calls a day about a pack of wild-looking dogs hanging around the Farmers Loop waste transfer station. The 13 dogs looked as though they were related, sources say, and were eating from bowls of food and water placed by sympathetic residents outside the station’s fence. As sightings and calls dwindled during the past week, animal control said it suspects the pack was spooked by the trapping and either retreated into the woods or back where it came from.
While some expressed concern at animal control not catching the dogs, traps have been deployed and officers dispatched to the station three to four times a day since word of the dogs began to spread.
The skinny dog caught in the trap looked like a racing sled dog, Ruger said. The dog was caught when it climbed into an enlarged mouse-trap-like cage and went for the food, triggering a spring-loaded door that shut the dog inside without injury.
“If it’s a real long dog, they might get a spanking when the door shuts, but that’s about it,” Ruger said.
Once released from the trap, the dog snapped at animal control officers’ fingers and every other body part in range.
“They had to handle him with the snappy snares,” Ruger said, “not a catch pole, but a flexible rod with a little slip loop on the end.”
Animal control euthanized the dog because he was dangerous, Ruger said.
“Somebody was going to get hurt,” he said.
People who frequent the transfer station saw the wild dogs outside the fence that surrounds the facility more than a week ago, but have not seen them inside the fence.
“That doesn’t mean they don’t come out at night,” said Dwayne Krause, a borough landfill employee who works at the transfer station.
Mike Shepherd, manager of Alaska Feed Company and a visitor to the transfer station, saw the dogs emerge from the woods in a long string one evening about a week ago.
He estimated a dozen dogs of different ages and multiple litters looking “less than well-cared-for,” he said while emptying his truck.
“But they looked identical,” he said.
Someone had left hot dog buns and water for the animals outside the fence at that time, Shepherd said.
“People thought they were animals at large and they were pets,” Ruger said.
But feeding the animals only encourages them to stay, he noted.
“(They) were doing what they thought was the right thing, and I’m not going to second-guess that,” he said.
Ruger said fed dogs are harder to lure into baited traps. In addition, the constant flow of people at the transfer site didn’t make it any easier to catch the dogs, ruling out the use of a tranquilizer gun.
Many public complaints came from people angry that animal control wasn’t doing anything, Ruger said.
“Just because we haven’t caught them doesn’t mean we’re not doing anything,” he said.
Calling animal control is still the best action to take, Ruger said.
In order to watch for signs of the pack, he dispatched officers throughout the day and had them wait in parked cars for two-hour time slots in the mornings, he said. But only two officers are on duty at a time, and one dispatcher handles more than 200 calls for service per day.
“We can’t put the whole force there 24/7,” he said.
Contact News-Miner intern Molly Rettig at 459-7575 or newsroom@newsminer.com.
Community Discussion
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I may sound ignorant here, but I'd rather people feed them, and animal control catch them near the transfer station, than have them roam over to my neck of the woods(1 mile away) looking for food.
I've already had one too many small animals killed by loose dogs this year.
better a small animal than a small child attacked at the transfer station... i may sound ignorant too.
I don't disagree. I'd rather see neither happen.
I've seen this pack of dogs a couple times. I've also seen them in the fence enclosure because people were trying to lure them to them by bending down and calling them and offering them food by hand. These are wild dogs and by feeding them and treating them like pets, people are creating a dangerous situation. Now we have a pack of wild dogs which is not going to be afraid to come and approach people. A pack of large dogs could easily attack a child or even a grown person. People should treat this like any other wild animal, we don't set out pails of water and food for bears or wolves, this is no different. Let them get hungry and be trapped, otherwise, they will continue to be a nuisance and a danger to all of us who live in the area.
AK47 and 1000 rounds of ammo ought ta take care of that little problem. We can throw the meat to the wolves so they don't have to eat domesticated dogs and small children this winter.
I love dogs. People aren't so great. (Apologies to my friends and loved ones, but it's true.)
I'd hope animal control is working to catch the dogs for the dogs' sake, rather than because they inconvenience or spook a few humans. Yeah, I'd hate for somebody's pet to get hurt by a pack of wild dogs; yet, you have to wonder how this situation came to be. In all likelihood, some irresponsible musher (human) is to blame.
I don't know whose attitude toward dogs is more deplorable-- mushers who cull their litters and leave the castoffs at the transfer station, or people who insist on owning a purebred Lab because, with some sort of Nazi-esque thinking, that is the "perfect" dog. There are too many unwanted dogs as it is, and the demand for purebreds just exacerbates the problem… and for what? A status symbol?
yep, status symbol indeed, purebred dogs are a huge WASTE of money. Know how to make a "purebreed"?, INCEST!!! thats right you have to breed dogs of the same family so certain traits come through to the pups, makes for an unhealthy, mean, short-lived animal, "oh but those Pomeranians are sooo cute" bleh...go buy a rat.
I hate it when people treat animals like novelties- when it gets too tough they ditch em like a vehicle that drinks to much gas.
IF YOU CANT TAKE CARE OF YOUR ANIMALS DON'T BUY THEM!!!!!
or get them free, give them to somebody competent when their cuteness wears off and you realize it actually takes EFFORT to take care of an animal.
I'm always left, says -
"I'd hope animal control is working to catch the dogs for the dogs' sake, rather than because they inconvenience or spook a few humans."
Did you read that part about the first dog being euthanized? You do realize that if animal control gets their hands on these dogs, they are all dead right? Do you really think that is "for the dog's sake"?
Be real...
As far as you guys dis'n on pure breeds, who do you think is more likely to take good care of their dog, someone who picks up a mutt for free, or someone who has paid $500 - $1500 for a pure bred? Seems pretty obvious to me which one will be likely to be valued more...
BTW - some people get pure breeds because they like the particular temperment - something that you never know about with a mutt.
What would a small child be doing, hanging out at the transfer station? Yup, your ignorant. Better the dogs stay around there then migrate to surrounding neiborhoods.
I saw the dogs too. They were kind of cute. They were friendly to me. ??? I thought they were someones pets that left them there, certainly not wild. As I was dumping my trash, animal control showed up and my husband and I laughed as the controller yelled "here puppy, here puppy, come on boy!!!", as he fumbled and bumbled with his snare.
Newsreader-
Those dogs are as good as dead anyway. All of this "publicity" is bound to have some hick with a rifle going down to the transfer station... and then claiming "defense of life"...or some do-gooder with poisoned bait... I've seen those dogs attempt to cross Farmer's Loop... someone's going to get hit. Let's not forget that those dogs are out there breeding as we speak. How does that help the situation?
I don't see much correlation between the amount someone pays for a dog and they way they treat it. What about all those people who think, "I paid all that money for you... you should be smarter.", get frustrated because it's, after all, a dog, and take it out on the pet? If you really have good intentions with your dog, you're not going to care about its lineage.
Temperment is not a guarantee with purebreeds...in fact, high-strung and neurotic often come with the territory.
BTW, newsreader, you couldn't just let me have my short-lived relapse, could you?
THis discussion has moved off the original topic.
We are talking about WILD dogs. Someones long forgotten pet, that bred. Surviving on INSTINCT. Thank goodness they have that. But, animals living in instinct, can be feral, and that makes them dangerous and a threat.
Purebreeds are KNOWN to be more temperamental (comes with IMBREEDING) fyi.
So anyway, does anyone have ideas regarding how to channel more funding to the FNSB animal control? Every time I've called to ask for assistance with a stray, they tell me they are too understaffed to respond.
This would be a good opportunity to organize folks to go to an assembly meeting. Is anyone else game?
If people see these dogs at Farmer's Loop and are so concerned about the dogs, here's what you do. Take your cell phone and call Animal Control from the dump site. Stay at the dump site until Animal Control arrives. In the meanwhile, attempt to keep the dogs contained ,or eating some snack, or keep the dogs in view.
Animal Control is located on Peger Rd, a good 5 miles from Farmer's Loop dump site. Mu guess is that our animal facility isn't equiped with funding or human resource to drop everything and go chase dogs every time people panic because they see a pack of dogs.
People can blame Animal Control or step in and assist the situation.
I had a purebred Cocker Spaniel once. He was perfectly formed, perfectly colored--the whole package. But he was as dumb as a box of rocks (or maybe a Clinton voter). He had to be put down because he tried to bite our toddler. Then we got a purebred mutt. Our kids crawled all over this dog, pulled his ears and tail, ate from the same dish (yeah, the little one had a yen for kibbles), napped together and dressed him up in dolly clothes. He sat there and took it. He has NEVER growled or bared his teeth to us or the children. Our mutt has been, by far, the best dog we have ever owned.
The borough animal control had best get ready for more of this as people try to decide whether to heat their homes or feed Fido, feed their kids or the dogs. Basic care cost for a dog, without emergency vet care for illness/injury or other extra-ordinary costs, is about $850 a year. How many people will have to decide between $850 for the fuel tank or feeding the dog? As the economic situation deepens there will be more and more animals dumped - at the shelter on Peger, at the transfer sites, on rural roads to fend for themselves...
The only acceptable thing to do with these animals at this point is for animal control to trap and euthanize them, unless there is a "rescue" willing to take them on. And, sadly, I do not think there is a compentent rescue group in the Interior that has the finances or volunteers/staff to do that.
The number of healthy companion animals dumped at the animal control shelter is huge - but then we have the mushing community (and here I hang the blame on the "wanna-be mushers," a topic for a different rant) and the transient military which contribute generously to the numbers. How many times do you see ads that say "Free dog - moving can't take with us"? Pets are disposable to most people when they become inconvenient, cost too much to maintain, get hair on the furniture, etc etc etc - I've heard hundreds upon hundreds of excuses for animal dumping over the years. It always comes down to one thing: 'I went otut and got this pet but now I am not willing to acceot the responsibility for its life.' If pet owners were required to kill their pet rather than dumping it on someone else when they were done with it there would be some thought go into the acquisition of pets.
The answer is to PREVENT FUTURE PROBLEMS. We do not have a strong spay/neuter program here and there are too many people with "free spirit" attitudes who refuse to keep their pets from breeding - frozen is a good example of the Neanderthal mentality of many in our town. Although there are some community animal welfare advocataes who try to address the issues, community education on animal welfare issues is sadly lacking.
I won't even go into the inadequacies of animal control/the animal shelter - they do a better job than similar organizations in many communities but lack strong community support, do not have strong leadership. If the FNM wanted to do a worthwhile series of articles that would benefit Fairbanks and environs I'd suggest investigating animal welfare issues instead of beating the dead horse of old, solved crimes.
continue from above
This feral pack is a sad situation but the reality is, with winter coming on, these dogs will have no choice but to make a living by preying on other creatures, raiding homes & businesses for trash, and generally becoming a nuisance. I'm surprised there hasn't been a serious vehicle accident with a pack of dogs trying to cross busy roads and highways.
I have been in animal welfare work for most of my life but am not a "bleeding heart misty-eyed liberal" about the realities of the world. Domestic dogs, whether "purebred" or mutt, are just one step removed from feral - wild. Even "tame" dogs can be dangerous creatures because they are smart, have strong survival instincts, and formidable weapons (teeth, claws, and pack instincts). I've rehabilitated many "wild" dogs over the years and it's a long, frustrating process. And then, once the dogs are "tame" and ready for "loving homes," NO ONE WANTS THEM ANYWAY. This is proven by the number of adoptable animals who are euthanized because there are not enough people willing to adopt them. In the time it takes you to read this shocking numbers of companion animals have been killed in 'shelters' across the US.
These statistics are from The National Council on Pet Population, Study and Policy.:
Number of cats and dogs entering shelters each year:
6-8 million
Number of cats and dogs euthanized by shelters each year:
3-4 million
Number of cats and dogs reclaimed by owners from shelters each year:
Between 600,000 and 750,000 — 30 percent of dogs and 2-5 percent of cats entering shelters
Number of animal shelters in the United States:
Between 4,000 and 6,000
Percentage of dogs in shelters who are purebred:
25 percent
So cry over these poor Farmer's Loop dogs but don't make it out to be someone else's problem. Are YOU willing to step up and take them on? I'll bet not. . .
PEOPLE: SPAY AND NEUTER YOUR ANIMALS. You say you can't afford it? S.N.I.P. (Spay and Neuter Interior's Pets)provides LOW COST sterilization services. http://www.lovingcompanionsanimalrescue....
Call 322-1594, or if long distance (toll free), 1-888-ALT-SNIP (258-7647) to make an appointment. They have low-cost spay/neuter clinics on the 3rd Saturday of the month at the Ken Kunkel Community Center, Goldstream Rd. They can always use volunteers to help with making the clinic run smoothly - and no experience needed: they'll show you what needs to be done, from set up and clean up to caring for animals recovering from anesthesia.
These aren't pets anymore, animal control has made it known the dogs ARE feral. Meaning wild and uncontrollable, and more importantly, unpredictable. The best thing to do in this situation is to trap as many as possible, to gauge their disposition, and go from there. Leave this situation up to the professionals, just like any other situation with a wild animal. It's hard when they look like domesticated dogs, to just leave them be and not give them food, I can understand...but just remember they're like wolves at this point. Feeding them to survive would just mean further problems down the road, especially when winter hits and they have to take drastic measures (ie eating pets, small children) to survive.
With that said, I agree with frozen-- bring in the ak47 and ammo. Sounds like these dogs have "crossed over" to the wild side, so to speak. Leaving them at large is inviting tragedy.
"If the FNM wanted to do a worthwhile series of articles that would benefit Fairbanks and environs I'd suggest investigating animal welfare issues instead of beating the dead horse of old, solved crimes."
I'd love to see that. Does the FDNM take requests?
Excellent post. I couldn't agree with you more (this time), endotheroad.
My only comment, PLEASE spay or neuter your pets.
AKPRINCESS72, I agree with you 100%.
"oh but those Pomeranians are sooo cute" bleh...go buy a rat."
Uh, yeah, I don't think it was a pack of wild pomeranians hanging out at the transfer site.
Yes people should take care of their pets, get them spayed or neutered, etc. Of course. I don't think the irresponsibility of some pet owners gives anyone the right to dictate what kind of dog you own. Some people like small dogs, some people like big dogs, some people like purebreds, some people like mutts, and some people don't like dogs at all...what does that have to do with the problem of group of feral dogs to be removed? The problem is not related to what kinds of dogs people like...it is related to irresponsible caretaking.
The sad truth is, I think the best solution for these animals is euthanization. I don't see how a feral dog could be put up for adoption, and I don't think they can be safely left to roam. It is an unfortunate situation, but there is no point in putting humans in jeopardy for the sake of a feral animal.
There's an example of what I like to call "logic leaping".
In some states, any stray or feral dog or cat is always in season. In NW Pennsylvania, where I grew up, it was and still is legal to shoot strays. My brother worked for the PA equivalent of ADFG for 35 years. Just checked with him, and it is still that way. Not many feral or stray dogs or cats, since they are disposed of and left to become part of the food chain. In winter strays can run on top of crusted snow and chase down deer, and kill just for the sport.
"Purebreeds are KNOWN to be more temperamental (comes with IMBREEDING) fyi."
You're totally wrong. Please stop posting. fyi.
We could always catch them (feral strays) and butcher them for meat to sell in the Asian market to try and relieve some of the prices for fuel.
so how to you get pure breeds then? magic?
Sell them to china.
Let us not cast doubt upon either the intentions or abilities, of either local pet rescue groups or animal control. I am sure their intentions are good and that they try to do well, and we all fall short sometimes.
We can only HOPE that these feral dogs "are as good as dead"! It sounds like they have already successfully bred. If they are not eliminated soon, we may soon have a large and uncontrollable feral dog problem, and then everybody (dog haters and lovers alike) will be unhappy.
I recommend the whole she-bang! Leg hold and box traps, snares and sharp shooters. Placing poisoned bait threatens non-targeted benificial animals, and I'd prefer it not be used.
To jim1946: same thing in upstate NY everybody from the city drives up to the catskills and leaves them and mostly farmers have to shoot them because they cause too many problems.
Hate to break it to you but we're all mutts. All my dogs were mutts and were free, except one and he was a bassett. They were all loved and lived to old age. A couple were abandoned and they appreciated a good home and food.
A pet is a product of its owner. Same as a child is a product of its parents. If either are mistreated or neglected they will act out.
When Darwin said we derived from apes I think he insulted the ape.
"so how to you get pure breeds then? magic?"
Let's keep it simple for you. Yes, it's magic.
Just call Fish and Game and tell them the that those dogs are chasing moose. You'll see them gone. Or better yet, invite those wolves back into that area and those dogs won't last either. Do like in the bush, just shoot them for goodness sake. All this romantic nonsense about domesticated dogs, any dog has the ability to turn on a human or another animal. There's good reason behind the statement, let sleeping dogs lie.
LostAlaskan99712 says, "We could always catch them (feral strays) and butcher them for meat to sell in the Asian market to try and relieve some of the prices for fuel."
In Peru when the circus comes to town, the stray pet problem just goes away... and the circus animals leave less hungry. Maybe we could invite a circus to town instead of looking for more funding to hire more Animal Control Officers?
There seems to be a serious Catch 22 involved in Animal Control. On the one hand you have an agency with employees that seem, well, less than enthusiastic when you call for assistance. On the other hand you have our community that resents the lack of assistance and refuses to become knowledgeable about our pet situation in order to increase the response by the agency. If the community was more supportive the agency would have more funds & a better attitude about helping you at 2am. I hope that made sense. Anyway - as a citizen of this borough I would be willing to put up or shut up - increase my property tax within limits, have the borough commit to using that funding for the animals and I'll be happy. I'm doing my part by helping pay for a specific goal and they get the funding they need to make sure when I call at 2am they respond! How much simpler can you get?
I mean, really people. Don't complain until you're willing to do something. Everyone seems to forget that it's easier to be MADE to do the right thing instead of doing it just because it's the RIGHT thing to do. And I include myself in that statement. I may not have the funds up front but I was smart in my pet shopping - shelters & rescue groups! Purchase supplies from those that have a direct impact on our pet situation, like buying used kennels from a local rescue group ect. Not only that but I'M A RESPONSIBLE PET OWNER!!
1. I've spayed my dog!
2. I restrain/control my dog at all times when she's outside my house.
3. I CLEAN UP after her when out in public.
4. She's current on her shots/vet visits.
5. I give her plenty of affection, exercise and good food.
Now if only more pet owners would get with the program we wouldn't have a wild dog problem!
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