News
ENLARGE
He came to Monday night’s Snowmass Village Town Council meeting alone, and Dan MacEachen soon realized he was outnumbered by about 70 to 1.
The packed council chambers was filled with supporters of the efforts led by Bill Fabrocini and Lee Ann Vold, founders of Voices for the Krabloonik Dogs, to refine the living conditions for the dogs at Krabloonik Kennels.
Home made signs in the audience read “Dogs don’t work!” and “Krabloonik dogs beg for mercy.” As this meeting was not on the agenda, but rather a public non-agenda item, responses from council were somewhat reserved.
Throughout the 20 minutes or so, both Fabrocini and Vold, along with Holly Tarry, the Colorado Director for the Humane Society of the United States, spoke passionately and pleaded with council to help fix the situation at Krabloonik.
The Town of Snowmass Village owns the land which the dogs are boarded on, leasing it to MacEachen for $10 per month, and Vold expressed her feelings that the town council, along with MacEachen, should be held responsible for making improvements for the well-being of the sled dogs. She listed a number of changes that she and her partners agreed were crucial to improving the canine’s living conditions. Some of these suggestions included improving the feeding regimen, allowing the dogs to be exercised on a regular basis, year-round, and improving the spay and neutering program. Other suggestions included better socialization with other dogs, additional perimeter fencing and promotion of a retirement/rescue program for the older sled dogs.
The actions were broken down into dated phases, the first being proper fencing, additional watering and feeding times, and an initial vet evaluation of each dog at Krabloonik. The first phase was slated to be complete by October 15.
‘Left on a good note’
The following day, the Krabloonik Advisory Committee met with MacEachen at the Aspen Animal Shelter. Participants of the meeting included Vold, Fabrocini, shelter director Seth Sachson and board member Anne Gurchick, former musher and area resident Ed Foran, veterinarian Scott Dolginow, animal behaviorist Laura VanDyne and Snowmass resident (and mayoral candidate) Bill Boineau.
“In terms of what Krabloonik offers,” said Foran, “it’s a very big part of our history, going back to the 10th Mountain Division and Stuart Mace. It represents part of our past and is a valuable asset to Snowmass.”
Foran was a musher in Alaska in the 1980s, competing in two Iditarods; he also sat on the Board of Directors for the Yukon Quest. He owned his own kennel and cared for about 40 dogs before selling them and making the move to Aspen.
“I was asked to be a part of this committee by (Sachson),” Foran said. “I like to think that I provide a different perspective on the issue. It’s a labor of love, and I really feel that Dan wants to go forward with this and improve the conditions at Krabloonik. Is there room for improvement? Yes, there is, and Dan acknowledges that. We have a great group of very knowledgeable people here, and I think that we can come up with a productive plan.”
Tuesday’s meeting was a vital next step for the Krabloonik Advisory Committee, even though MacEachen claimed that it would be nearly impossible to have new fencing put in by their deadline, due to financial and labor issues. Vold did state, however, that MacEachen is willing to conduct training sessions for volunteers who want to walk both older Krabloonik sled dogs and younger puppies.
“We definitely left (Tuesday’s meeting) on a good note,” said Vold. “So far, we’re not 100 percent on everything, but he (MacEachen) is making the steps to go forward. As we continue our meetings, we will find a middle ground. We want the public to know that we are willing to work with him, and we feel he is willing to work with us.”
Three parts to change
During Monday’s meeting in the council chambers, Fabrocini stated that the change comes down to three simple concepts: money, time and effort.
In a letter from the Humane Society’s Holly Tarry to the council she stated, “I hope that the Town of Snowmass Village will closely consider the details of this case and take action to reform the way Krabloonik operates. For at least the last seven years that Krabloonik has been licensed by the state it has not been compliant with the minimum standards of care and the dogs have suffered as a result. On their behalf I ask that you please take action and deliver the dogs much needed relief.”
As a defensive MacEachen took the microphone, he claimed that “everything I do, I do for the dogs.”
This statement alone put the audience up in arms.
“It took me 10 years to get that lease, (and in the process) it left me broke. I sold everything that wasn’t nailed down.”
He claimed he spent about $3 million to get to that point.
MacEachen continued on, saying that he has done nothing illegal, and the dogs are fed on a diet based on a particular dog.
Mayor Doug “Merc” Mercatoris along with other council members did take some immediate action, however. They requested a full report to be conducted by the town’s “professionals’” including the police chief, animal control officers and the town manager. The issue will be put on a future Town Council agenda once the report is complete.
Mike Canino’s e-mail address is mcanino@snowmasssun.com
The packed council chambers was filled with supporters of the efforts led by Bill Fabrocini and Lee Ann Vold, founders of Voices for the Krabloonik Dogs, to refine the living conditions for the dogs at Krabloonik Kennels.
Home made signs in the audience read “Dogs don’t work!” and “Krabloonik dogs beg for mercy.” As this meeting was not on the agenda, but rather a public non-agenda item, responses from council were somewhat reserved.
Throughout the 20 minutes or so, both Fabrocini and Vold, along with Holly Tarry, the Colorado Director for the Humane Society of the United States, spoke passionately and pleaded with council to help fix the situation at Krabloonik.
The Town of Snowmass Village owns the land which the dogs are boarded on, leasing it to MacEachen for $10 per month, and Vold expressed her feelings that the town council, along with MacEachen, should be held responsible for making improvements for the well-being of the sled dogs. She listed a number of changes that she and her partners agreed were crucial to improving the canine’s living conditions. Some of these suggestions included improving the feeding regimen, allowing the dogs to be exercised on a regular basis, year-round, and improving the spay and neutering program. Other suggestions included better socialization with other dogs, additional perimeter fencing and promotion of a retirement/rescue program for the older sled dogs.
The actions were broken down into dated phases, the first being proper fencing, additional watering and feeding times, and an initial vet evaluation of each dog at Krabloonik. The first phase was slated to be complete by October 15.
‘Left on a good note’
The following day, the Krabloonik Advisory Committee met with MacEachen at the Aspen Animal Shelter. Participants of the meeting included Vold, Fabrocini, shelter director Seth Sachson and board member Anne Gurchick, former musher and area resident Ed Foran, veterinarian Scott Dolginow, animal behaviorist Laura VanDyne and Snowmass resident (and mayoral candidate) Bill Boineau.
“In terms of what Krabloonik offers,” said Foran, “it’s a very big part of our history, going back to the 10th Mountain Division and Stuart Mace. It represents part of our past and is a valuable asset to Snowmass.”
Foran was a musher in Alaska in the 1980s, competing in two Iditarods; he also sat on the Board of Directors for the Yukon Quest. He owned his own kennel and cared for about 40 dogs before selling them and making the move to Aspen.
“I was asked to be a part of this committee by (Sachson),” Foran said. “I like to think that I provide a different perspective on the issue. It’s a labor of love, and I really feel that Dan wants to go forward with this and improve the conditions at Krabloonik. Is there room for improvement? Yes, there is, and Dan acknowledges that. We have a great group of very knowledgeable people here, and I think that we can come up with a productive plan.”
Tuesday’s meeting was a vital next step for the Krabloonik Advisory Committee, even though MacEachen claimed that it would be nearly impossible to have new fencing put in by their deadline, due to financial and labor issues. Vold did state, however, that MacEachen is willing to conduct training sessions for volunteers who want to walk both older Krabloonik sled dogs and younger puppies.
“We definitely left (Tuesday’s meeting) on a good note,” said Vold. “So far, we’re not 100 percent on everything, but he (MacEachen) is making the steps to go forward. As we continue our meetings, we will find a middle ground. We want the public to know that we are willing to work with him, and we feel he is willing to work with us.”
Three parts to change
During Monday’s meeting in the council chambers, Fabrocini stated that the change comes down to three simple concepts: money, time and effort.
In a letter from the Humane Society’s Holly Tarry to the council she stated, “I hope that the Town of Snowmass Village will closely consider the details of this case and take action to reform the way Krabloonik operates. For at least the last seven years that Krabloonik has been licensed by the state it has not been compliant with the minimum standards of care and the dogs have suffered as a result. On their behalf I ask that you please take action and deliver the dogs much needed relief.”
As a defensive MacEachen took the microphone, he claimed that “everything I do, I do for the dogs.”
This statement alone put the audience up in arms.
“It took me 10 years to get that lease, (and in the process) it left me broke. I sold everything that wasn’t nailed down.”
He claimed he spent about $3 million to get to that point.
MacEachen continued on, saying that he has done nothing illegal, and the dogs are fed on a diet based on a particular dog.
Mayor Doug “Merc” Mercatoris along with other council members did take some immediate action, however. They requested a full report to be conducted by the town’s “professionals’” including the police chief, animal control officers and the town manager. The issue will be put on a future Town Council agenda once the report is complete.
Mike Canino’s e-mail address is mcanino@snowmasssun.com
