Mat-Su Borough Manager Mike Brown said the borough “must do better” after 25 dogs were found dead at a Caswell Lakes property, announcing an independent review of borough actions while Alaska State Troopers investigate possible animal cruelty.
on a Caswell Lakes property on Wednesday, announcing an independent review of borough actions while Alaska State Troopers investigate possible animal cruelty. In an interview with Alaska’s News Source, Borough Manager Mike Brown said the deaths have shaken the community — and borough officials are feeling it, too.
“We recognize how difficult and heartbreaking this is for our community,” Brown said. “I don’t want folks to think that’s lost on us at all.” “We’ve already begun an internal investigation to take a look at our process, protocols, and we will also initiate an external independent review so that we can bring somebody in from the outside to give us kind of a third-party look,” Brown said. Brown pushed back on online claims that borough animal control never responded, but said the outcome shows the response fell short. “This isn’t a situation where we didn’t do anything or we did nothing,” Brown said. “But clearly what was done was not enough to prevent this situation from occurring.”they were asked April 15 to assist Mat-Su Borough Animal Control with an investigation in the Caswell Lakes area. Troopers said they located 25 deceased dogs when they arrived and opened a criminal animal cruelty investigation.Several community members who said they were familiar with the dog owner and the property told Alaska’s News Source they repeatedly contacted animal control about welfare concerns earlier this year. Alyssa Buser owns a dog sled tour business, Susitna Sled Dog Adventures, with her partner Rohn, the son of four-time Iditarod champion Martin Buser. She said she called animal control as early as January after learning the dogs’ caretaker was leaving Alaska.“ told me like, ‘Well, I called her and she sent me photos of the dog yard and the dogs are fine and she’s taking care of them,’” Buser said in an interview on Thursday. “So he didn’t go. He just basically kind of brushed it off and said, ‘Well, the owner has told me otherwise.’”“He told me, you’re interfering with my investigation. I need you to not keep calling me,” Buser said. In the same interview with Alaska’s News Source, Holly Lynn said she believes animal control should have taken additional steps after receiving repeated complaints.A kennel owner, Anja Radano, said she expected animal control to follow up after concerns were reported. “You call animal control with concerns, and then that’s what they do. They follow it up. And they didn’t,” Radano said. “They just brushed you off on the phone.”Brown said he has seen complaints dating back to early January, though he said he does not yet have a firm count. “I do recall seeing complaints that went back to early January, and there were more than one complaint,” Brown said. Brown said the borough expects to release more specifics after it completes its internal review and hires an outside reviewer. “We can provide those,” Brown said of dates and actions by animal control. “That’s kind of why we wanted to do the internal review and an external review — is to make sure that we have all the facts correct and interview multiple parties.” Brown said animal control officers visited the property multiple times earlier in the case, largely in January.Brown said the borough’s animal shelter is caring for the one dog that survived. He said the shelter received the dog April 15 after a transfer from a private veterinary medical center, which had initially received the dog from a member of the public. “The dog has received a veterinary examination, IV fluids, and other supportive care, and is under the care of our shelter veterinarian currently, and is currently in stable condition,” Brown said.The Department of Public Safety said additional information will be released as the investigation continues. The borough said it will continue assisting troopers while the investigation remains active.Alaska’s News Source has reached out to the dogs’ owner for comment and has not received a response.Over 40 guns seized after SWAT standoff at Fairbanks home amid alleged union hall attack plotHomeSTEAD Charter application heads to state after approval from Fairbanks school boardElection 2026: Begich takes the lead in campaign earnings with independent challenger Hill in second
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