Dogs In Alaska Being Killed With Meth

by Kevin Burton

   Three dogs have died so far, as someone in Palmer, Alaska is poisoning dogs with methamphetamines.

   Katie Stavick of the Frontiersman newspaper, posted a story on it April 5.

   “Dogs have many titles-man’s best friend, loyal and trusted companion, and beloved member of the family. That’s what makes a string of suspected dog poisonings so disturbing,” Stavick wrote.

   “Residents of the Equestrian Acres neighborhood in Palmer are growing increasingly concerned as three dogs have died by what is suspected to be an amphetamine poisoning. Even more concerning is that all three dogs were poisoned while secured in their fenced-in backyards during daylight hours.”

    Since February three dogs have died and several others have suffered serious illness from the poison.

   “This has just been devastating to us,” said Krysta Voskowsky, who lost her beloved dog, Mishka, a 5-year-old Alaskan Malamute, last month.

   “We do everything to keep our animals safe. We have GPS on their dog collars, keep items out of reach, have them microchipped. We have a fenced yard. She was a part of our family, and to have this happen…I don’t feel safe.”

    “Voskowsky noticed March 1, that her dog was not acting herself, unsteady on her feet and unable to eat, instead vomiting at the site of her kibble. Voskowsky and her partner Shane Semenuk immediately took Mishka to the veterinarian, where she later passed away, Stavick wrote.

   “We had no idea that she wouldn’t be coming home. Her death was painful, and this has been devastating, and it has made us nervous to let our other animals out of sight. It has put everything into question and left me suspicious,” Voskowsky said.

   “According to documents submitted by Voskowsky, Mishka suffered a seizure before passing. The veterinarian confirmed after Mishka’s death, that Mishka “popped positive for amphetamines.”

   Voskowsky said that the veterinarian also verbally confirmed that although she could not share specific details, approximately 4 or 5 other dogs had been seen exhibiting similar symptoms and were treated for methamphetamine poisoning likely from “drugs tossed in their yard.” The status of those dogs is unknown.

   “We are actively working with Palmer Police, Alaska State Troopers, and local community members to solve this crime. The torture and poisoning of an animal is a Class C Felony in the State of Alaska,” Voskowsky said. They also filed a report with the Matanuska Susitna Borough Animal Control.

   Meanwhile, Voskowsky is concerned about the method of poisoning-amphetamines-and what that means as far as it possibly being consumed or made in the surrounding area,” Stavick wrote.

   “What concerns me is that this is meth. There was a lot of attention on the meth problem here in the Valley in 2018, but not so much. If animals are dying from meth, that means there is still a problem. This points to a bigger problem,” Voskowsky said.

   Now, Voskowsky and her neighbors are working to prevent other pet owners from suffering the same loss. She has gone door-to-door for information, and while there has been some hesitancy, at least one neighbor has come forward with footage from a video doorbell that shows suspicious vehicles around the time of the dogs becoming ill.

   “I’m still deciding whether or not to post it to social media. I don’t want to do anything that could possibly interfere with any investigation,” Voskowsky said.

   I lived in Palmer for two years and worked at the Frontiersman.  One notable story I covered was the Palmer City Council considering a ban of pit bull terriers from the city. That breed is known to be aggressive, but of course that trait is not true of every individual pit bull.

   Most nights at Palmer City Council very few people attended. When the pit bull ban came up for a vote, the council chambers were packed by passionate dog owners who made the case for their pets.

   No ban of pit bulls was enacted.

   Alaskans love their dogs. The perpetrators of this meth-poisoning crime will be fortunate if the State Troopers catch them before the residents do.

   “Our pets are sometimes better than humans with the unconditional love they give,” Voskowsky said. “Mishka had been bounced around before finding a home, and she had so much love to give. She didn’t deserve this. No animal deserves this.”

   If anyone has information about this crime, please call Mat Su Crime Stoppers at (907) 745-3333 or go to www.matsucrimestoppers.org.

   A GoFundMe campaign has been launched to raise money for a reward to be given to someone who helps catch the serial dog-killer. To contribute to that, go to http://www.gofundme.com/f/reward-fund-to-stop-dog-killer