Musher charged with neglecting 33 sled dogs.

By Ted Sullivan, Chronicle Staff Writer, February 16th 2008

A West Yellowstone man was charged Thursday with 34 counts of animal cruelty for allegedly abandoning 33 sled dogs earlier this month near Targhee Pass.

John T. Hessert was charged with one count of aggravated animal cruelty, a felony, and 33 counts of animal cruelty, all misdemeanors. He is expected to enter a plea to the charges in Gallatin County District Court at a future date.

The maximum punishment for aggravated animal cruelty is a two-year sentence to the Montana Department of Corrections and a $2,500 fine. Misdemeanor animal cruelty carries a maximum sentence of one year in the county jail and a $1,000 fine.

According to court records, a man called animal control Jan. 30 to report that 33 sled dogs were being kept in an unsafe environment outside West Yellowstone.

The man told the officer he knew the owner of the dogs and that he had not seen the owner in several days, court records stated. The path leading to the dogs had no snowmobile or ski tracks, and the area was not accessible in any other way.

The man who called the sheriff’s office said the dogs were “extremely emaciated†and in “poor condition,†according to court records. The dogs also had no shelter, food or water.

After a district judge signed a search warrant, the dogs were seized from the property, court records stated.

A veterinarian examined the dogs on Saturday, Feb. 2, and determined that the dogs were all “well below normal health and had not been being fed enough food,†according to court records.

One of the dogs had a collar embedded in its neck, court records stated, and other dogs had frostbite.

According to Web sites related to mushing, Hessert has competed in the Iditarod Great Sled Race and other sled-dog races. He withdrew last year from the Yukon Quest International Sled Dog Race at the request of race officials. He also had been trying to organize a race near West Yellowstone.

Kayla, I feel bad for the dogs too, but I don't think this kind of post should reflect on the entire sled dog community as may have been the purpose for placing it here. Quite the opposite. It seems like just about everyone who had dealings with this person was concerned that there was a problem. Obviously they were correct!

Debbie