Sled dog owner has history of animal neglect
Posted : Dec 29, 2009 6:51 PM
Updated: Dec 30, 2009 7:46 AM
The man accused of animal cruelty involving nearly 100 dogs in Park County has a history of animal abuse, according to court records.
Samuel and Diane Walker face two felony and 30 misdemeanor animal cruelty charges, after Park County Sheriff's officials took several husky sled dogs and husky mixes from their property near Hartsel more than a week ago. The arrest affidavit says some of the dogs were dead, and several others malnourished and in need of medical care.
The Walkers own the Pawsatrack Racing Sled Dog Kennels in Hartsel.
Court records show Samuel Walker has been cited at least 23 times for various violations, mostly in Teller County. Of those, he has been convicted of nine charges, ranging from animal cruelty to unlicensed animals to barking dogs.
The arrest affidavit also mentions several welfare checks by Park County animal control officers to the Walker property since 2004. In one incident, Samuel Walker had reported a dog missing. That dog was found walking on the highway, skinny and with paws bleeding. The dog's collar had to be cut off because it was too tight. A veterinarian exam found the dog to be emaciated (thin from disease or hunger), dehydrated, and suffering from neglect.
Walker has a breeder's license through the Colorado Department of Agriculture. Christi Lightcap, spokesperson for the department, says Walker has had a history of compliance. Lightcap tells News First 5, the department inspected the sled dog kennel in February 2009 and found no problems.
The Department of Agriculture has gone back to Walker's establishment this month.
"Absolutely appauling," says Lightcap about the condition of the kennels and of the dogs now.
The department will likely put the breeder's license up for review once the criminals charges have gone through the court system, depending on the outcome of those charges.
The Walkers have bought 434 dog licenses since 2004 from the Park County Sheriff's Office.
The Walkers turned themselves into authorities Christmas Day. They have each posted a $2,000 bond.
Barb in COS at Dec 30th 2009 7:35 AM
"The department will likely put the breeder's license up for review once the criminals charges have gone through the court system, depending on the outcome of those charges."...????!!!! This guy has been CONVICTED 9 times and been cited 23 times and the CO Dept. of Agriculture is going to review his license? Give me a break! Garbage like the Walkers will continue this behavior until authorities and the "folks in charge" start treating this like the crime it is. There is a reason that animal cruelty is so often linked to psychopathic behavior. I plan on writing a few letters to the people at the AG Dept...and before the PETA jokes start, I am a born an bred farm girl. Even someone who enjoys a steak knows that what the Walkers did is WRONG and that the government agencies that let this happen again and again have the opportunity and the duty to make it right. Let them know that this won't be tolerated.
MS from Fremont Cty at Dec 30th 2009 10:09 AM
I totally agree with 'Barb in COS'. People like this should not be allowed to have any contact with animals. And why isn't there more charges than just 2 felony and 30 misdemeanor?? There were 100 dogs taken from there and that doesn't include the 8 that were already dead. These people should be treated exactly the way they treated these animals.
Tam in COS at Dec 30th 2009 10:29 AM
Barb I would have to agree with you. He has already been convicted 9 times and cited 23 how many more times will it take for them to take his license. It should have been taken when he was convicted the first nine times or even when they found his dog walking on the highway with bleeding paws and obviously neglected.
I'm not a PETA person either, I'm actually going to school for animal forensics and want to work on making the consequences for neglected and abuse to animals more severe. People need to understand that even though animals aren't people they still have feelings and are living things that need to be fed and taken care of. I understand that the economy is hard, but if you can't afford your dog find someone who can instead of not feeding it and letting it die of starvation.
kriss at Dec 30th 2009 1:08 PM
People like this should not be allowed a license for anything animals, reptiles, unfortunately they already have a marriage license. I personally hope that they get the maximum allowed on each of the accounts, they should also be treated as they treated their animals. They deserve it and much more.