Animals

by Ashton Goodell Tuesday, July 13, 2010 ANCHORAGE, Alaska -- It's a rule at Hiland Mountain Correctional Center that once an inmate completes a project she has to give it away. "I am currently in my 18th year of probably a 24 year sentence," said prisoner Dana Hilbish. After her murder conviction, it took ten years for Hilbish to change her outlook on how she should spend her time in prison. "I got to find a piece of myself in dog training that I probably wouldn't of found," said Hilbish.

Repulsive yet attractive: that contradiction in reaction has stirred up quite the buzz at University of Alaska Fairbanks student John Morton's art exhibit, "Unbecoming. " "I'm interested in objects that can have the ability to make a human respond in such a way that they have to look at it, even if they don't want to," Morton said. Stripping away the surface and contemplating what lies beneath: that's what "Unbecoming" is all about. Morton's collection of ceramic creatures on display at UAF has become more than just a part of his thesis project -- it has become controversial.

by Christine Kim Saturday, May 29, 2010 ANCHORAGE, Alaska -- The Anchorage Animal Care and Control Center says warmer weather means you should keep a better eye on your pets. More dogs and cats end up at the shelter during the summer, and it's a trend that could be avoided. The shelter says with its open-door policy, it has to take in all strays that are brought in. Many dogs and cats appear to have had owners, but reuniting them with their families is a challenge if they're not properly identified.

On Saturday, Frank Rich, the Willow man who faces more than 50 counts of animal cruelty, spoke out about what led to more than 150 dogs being seized from his property. Rich says he struggled to feed the dogs but did not ask animal control for help because he was afraid the dogs would be euthanized. He says he misses the dogs that were taken and says they were like family to him. Rich was expected to change his plea on Wednesday but changed his mind. He says it's because he found out that the prosecutor was going to call in witnesses, and he claims he was also bothered by the chance of getting ten years of probation, unable to own an animal during that time.

Some birds from a January animal abuse case will be available for adoption Sunday, according to Anchorage animal-control officials. Anchorage police took about 50 birds from an Eagle River home filled with feces Jan. 14, along with about 30 dogs including many Chihuahuas. Two men who lived there -- Lester Mendez, 46, and Daniel Hoffman, 50 -- were arrested on two counts of animal cruelty each. Anchorage Animal Care and Control Center spokesperson Brooke Taylor said Friday that legal issues prevented her from describing the nature of any harm inflicted on the birds, including one cockatiel and many parakeets, but the birds being released for adoption this weekend are now healthy.

Mat-Su Borough officials have confirmed that the Borough's Animal Control chief has resigned. However, officials will not confirm why Bob Haskell decided to leave that position. The Borough hired Haskell in November 2008. Channel 2 was told by an animal control employee that a worker filed a complaint with the Borough against Haskell alleging he bullied and abused employees. Mat-Su Borough officials would not confirm whether a complaint was filed saying Haskell's resignation is "a personnel matter.

As the Memorial Day weekend approaches, wildlife biologists are warning people to be careful if they go hiking in the warm weather.  This is the week when moose give birth to their calves -- and if you run across a cuddly little moose calf, the mother is likely to be nearby.  Giving in to the urge to pet calves can quickly lead to trouble, like being charged by a cow moose weighing from 600 to 800 pounds. In addition to humans being endangered, calves can be endangered too. On Tuesday, in Talkeetna, pet dogs separated a moose calf from its mother and then attacked the calf.

By Keeley Chambers NBC News Wednesday, June 2, 2010 Inside the Cardiology Clinic at Oregon State University's animal hospital, 6-year- old Twiggy gets ready for heart surgery.  "If untreated, the worry is that she may go into right-sided heart failure," said Dr. Brian Bottorf, a cardiology veterinarian at the hospital. Twiggy's owner, Burt Goodman, made the trek from Seattle to Corvallis for the specialized procedure. For the Goodmans there is no other option.

Frank Rich, the man accused of abusing more than 150 dogs rescued in January from an alleged puppy mill in the Mat-Su Valley, made a last-minute decision Wednesday not to change his plea to guilty, ensuring that his case on charges of animal cruelty will go to trial. Rich had been widely expected to change his plea at Wednesday's packed court hearing. Many people in the courtroom had adopted or worked with the dogs, which were forfeited in February after Rich appealed the initial forfeiture order from the Mat-Su Borough.