18 sled dogs shot and killed
Manley, AK (US)Incident Date: Tuesday, Mar 8, 2005
County: Yukon Koyukuk
Disposition: Alleged
Alleged: Greg Gau
Alaska State Troopers served a search warrant at the home of a person suspected of shooting 18 sled dogs in Manley. The dogs, owned by recreational musher Chuck Parker, disappeared March 8. Manley is a community of 75 at the end of the Elliott Highway 160 miles northwest of Fairbanks.
Troopers said evidence collected may help them track down who is responsible.
"We served a search warrant on a suspect Saturday (May 28, 2005), and we're waiting on lab results from evidence we obtained," said Trooper Mike Potter. "Hopefully, we'll be able to make some connections."
Troopers seized a rifle, ammunition and dog hair from the suspect's home. Potter declined to identify the suspect unless charges are filed.
The dogs disappeared from a dog lot in a community regarded as welcoming to mushers.
Investigators immediately suspected the dogs had been shot. Troopers found blood spattered on the snow and on dog houses. Witnesses reported hearing several shots that day.
Troopers found the dogs' carcasses more than two weeks later on April 25. The carcasses were apparently tossed over a steep embankment on Tofty Road, a 15-mile dirt mining road just outside Manley, Potter said.
All 18 dogs were shot, most of them in the head or neck, he said. Troopers recovered a bullet from one of the dogs to determine if the caliber matched the rifle seized Saturday.
The incident jolted Manley residents, many of whom run dogs.
Parker was reportedly planning to move his dogs because of complaints by a neighbor of too much barking. Troopers declined to say whether a neighbor was a suspect.
Potter said he was not sure when troopers would get results back from the state crime lab.
"It could take a while," he said. References« Back to Search Results
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