by Jackie Bartz
Monday, March 15, 2010
EAGLE RIVER, Alaska -- They may be behind bars, but these are anything but bad dogs.
The Hiland Mountain Correctional Center opens its doors every year to dropped Iditarod dogs.
Inmates can volunteer to care for the pups.
Vets also visit the facility daily to check up on the dogs.
Most dogs only stay for two or three days, but inmates say it's more than enough time to fall in love with them.
"We come out in the morning and feed them, and they get their medication then, and the vets come around at 9 so we're out here when the vets are here because they like to see if the dogs are eating," said volunteer inmate Susan Soss.
The Hiland Mountain Correctional Facility began housing dogs in 1974.
Contact Jackie Bartz at jbartz@ktuu.com
