Four dogs found starved to death, frozen
Fairbanks, AK (US)

Incident Date: Tuesday, Nov 16, 2010
County: Fairbanks North Star

Charges: Misdemeanor
Disposition: Alleged

Alleged: David R. Smail

A Fairbanks man is accused of letting four pet dogs die on his watch and neglecting four others.

David R. Smail, 58, has been charged with animal cruelty and disorderly conduct, both misdemeanors.

An Alaska State Trooper was called to Smails' Harpers Road home Tuesday morning as a follow-up after animal control officials removed three dead dogs from the home. Animal control told troopers Smail refused to properly care for his animals.

Smail was known to have a shotgun and had threatened to kill animal control workers, according to charging documents.

As he approached the home, the trooper noted two malnourished dogs in kennels and a third that had apparently frozen to death.

Smail was taken into custody after telling the trooper several times he wanted to go to the back of his trailer where the shotgun was located.

In all, four living but malnourished dogs were turned over to animal control. The animals were described as "being in need of major medical treatment," in court documents.

Trooper spokeswoman Megan Peters said Smail is not a dog musher and more will be known about the dogs' condition next week.

Smail, who is still being held at Fairbanks Correctional Center, was previously charged with animal cruelty in 2000, but the details of that case were not immediately clear Thursday afternoon.

References

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