The dogs were taken from Linda Kapsa's property at Ballantine after a search warrant was executed Tuesday by the Yellowstone County Sheriff's Office. Kapsa kept more than 200 English shepherds, as well as cats, horses and birds.
Sheriff's investigators and officials with the Humane Society suspect the animals were neglected, but no charges have been filed.
The sheriff's office removed 189 live dogs and 11 dead dogs, as well as 27 chickens and a cat. Plans are under way to seize a flock of cockatiels and three horses that were impossible to move.
Three pregnant dogs, several sick dogs and numerous young puppies were taken to local veterinary clinics, and more dogs may have to be treated after a second health evaluation.
Rounding up and transporting the dogs took all day. Volunteers had all the dogs fed, watered and bedded down in 48 sawdust-filled horse stalls at MetraPark by about 9 p.m.
“As soon as we let them out of the crates, they dove into their food bowls,” said volunteer Rhonda Dillman of the Yellowstone Valley Kennel Club. “Quite a few were food-aggressive, which means they hadn't had much to eat.”
Officials tackled a pile of legal paperwork, and a table at MetraPark was covered with dog mug shots, each marked with a letter from the area from which they were taken and an individual number. The photos will eventually be posted outside each stall to keep track of the dogs. To maintain a legal chain of custody, the dogs need to be individually identified and tracked. At intake, each dog was given a microchip that can be scanned to access information by computer.
The dogs are entrenched in pack mentality, said Dave Pauli, Humane Society Northern Rockies regional director. To minimize conflict, they are being kept in the same groups they were with when they lived at Shady Lane Kennels.
Eventually, though, they will need to be separated by sex so they don't continue to breed indiscriminately, Pauli said. One of the stalls houses 27 chickens also seized from Kapsa's property. The stall is about three times the size of the enclosure where they lived before, Pauli said.
The stalls run down both sides of two stables, which are surrounded by a temporary dog fence. A large pile of sawdust, provided by Rocky Mountain Compost, sits between the two stables. Another barn is being used for food storage.
The stables are not heated, but electricity is available in case supplemental heat is needed for puppies or weaker dogs, Pauli said.
“They're all outdoor dogs, and it would be detrimental to keep them inside because their fur is adapted to the cold,” Pauli said.
A small crew of volunteers fed and watered the dogs Wednesday and changed their bedding. Much is left to be done, said Catherine Schaeffer, who has stepped in as manager for the temporary shelter.
Schaeffer is developing a schedule for volunteers, and small changes are being made to customize the stalls.
Veterinarians are concerned about the spread of parvovirus. The highly contagious disease is transferred through feces and easily spread in close quarters. The virus can live on the ground for more than a year and can survive subzero temperatures.
Several dogs tested positive for the disease Tuesday, said Schaeffer. Symptoms include severe diarrhea, and more than 50 percent of the dogs had diarrhea when they arrived.
Parvovirus can be treated; vaccinations are available and need to be given in a four-shot series over four months to be effective. Volunteers will be briefed on how to take precautions not to spread the disease to dogs they may have at home.
Almost all of the dogs were malnourished and had parasites. When they were first examined, their fur was matted with mud and feces. When the dogs become more accustomed to people, they will be bathed and groomed, Schaeffer said.
How to help
Yellowstone County needs donations to help care for the dogs taken from Shady Lane Kennels. Donations can be sent to the Yellowstone County Sheriff's Office Animal Rescue Fund, 219 N. 26th St., Billings, MT 59101.
Dog food donations are not being accepted. An initial donation of food and treats was made by PetSmart, and when it is depleted, caretakers plan to continue to feed the dogs the same brand of food to minimize the potential for upset digestive systems. Many of the dogs' digestive systems are fragile from malnutrition and chronic diarrhea.
Donations of blankets and old towels would be helpful, organizers said, but since facilities are not available to wash them, they will likely be used only once and discarded to minimize spread of disease.
Committed volunteers are needed right away to clean kennels and feed and socialize the dogs at MetraPark, said Catherine Schaeffer, manager of the temporary shelter.
Since the dogs are timid and sometimes aggressive, volunteers need to be 16 years or older and be experienced with animals, especially dogs, Schaeffer said.
Schaeffer and Yellowstone County Animal Control Officer John Fleming also need a heated trailer or motor home for a command center at MetraPark, postage, a printer/copier/scanner and a photo printer, said Schaeffer.
For volunteer information, leave a message for Schaeffer at (406) 248-2388.
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