BREAKING NEW! January 25, 2012:Judge Rules Humane Society Allowed to Keep Rescued Malamutes until Trial; Chilinski Not Allowed to Sell Dogs While Court Case in Pending. Read full news here >>
The latest: Affidavit of State of Montana v. Mike Chilinski, filed Oct. 18, 2011. If you’d like to read the full document, you can read it HERE.
Update: The County Attorney has filed a Motion for Reconsideration, asking the Judge to reconsider his ruling that Mr. Chilinski be allowed to place at least 70 of the Malamutes to other homes. If you’d like to read the full document, you can read it HERE.
Helena: Montana’s Fifth Judicial District Court in Jefferson County ruled yesterday that the Lewis and Clark Humane Society (LCHS) should be allowed to continue to house and care for over 161 rescued Malamutes until the results of owner Mike Chilinski's animal cruelty trial, which is scheduled for May.
The judge had previously considered letting Mr. Chilinski sell some of the dogs. The Humane Society and the County Attorney protested and filed a motion with the court to reverse that decision. Judge Loren Tucker released his opinion yesterday afternoon. Among other things, it stated “There is no evidence that returning the dogs to Chilinski would change the circumstances which gave rise to their seizure.”
Animal Shelter Director “Very Disappointed” With Ruling on Malamutes
At Least 70 Chilinski Dogs to be Released from Shelter to Other Breeders
Helena: The Executive Director of the Lewis and Clark Humane Society stated she was “very disappointed” as a result of yesterday’s hearing to determine the fate of the 161 rescued malamutes from alleged puppy mill owner Mike Chilinski. A Jefferson County judge yesterday agreed that Mr. Chilinski would be able to pick at least 70 dogs to “rehome” to his contacts in the Malamute breeding world.
“I am very disappointed that Mr. Chilinski will be allowed to ‘re-home’ these dogs to other breeders instead of letting the Humane Society work with to adopt them out to rescue groups”, Gina Wiest, Executive Director of the shelter stated. “ My fear is that the dogs will continue to be used as breeding machines to churn out more and more puppies instead of taken off that treadmill and given to good homes where they can live life as a dog, not a puppy-producing machine.”
While the judge’s timeline was not clear, Wiest said she understood that the shelter would be able to care for the dogs for a least another month before they were released to new homes. She underscored that details were still being worked out, but all costs for shipping, health certificates, transportation and other details relating to the transfer would be the responsibility of the new owner(s).
The fate of the remaining dogs will be determined within the next months by the courts. In the meantime, they continue to be cared for at an undisclosed location by staff members of the Humane Society.
Wiest thanked the hundreds of people who had shown interest in the dogs, sent in food, money and toys and stated, “We will have all the dogs at least another month, and possibly many more for an indeterminate amount of time, depending on the courts. The costs continue to mount to care for the dogs, and donations are appreciated and still much-needed.”
Thank you for your interest in the malamutes.
Hey everyone; here’s a great new fundraiser – just in time for the holidays – that our friend Melissa Hoover has offered. She’s the creator of Infinity minerals makeup, and will be donating 40% of all proceeds from all makeup sold November 20-December 3rd.
You can go to Envy Salon and Spa at 2100 N. Last Chance Gulch in Helena or order on line. Either way, your new look will benefit the dogs! Her web site is infinitymineralsmakeup.com A big shout out to Melissa for making this happen. Please support this fundraiser if you can!
Thank you for caring, and don’t forget to check out our Facebook page for news, too! If you are able to donate, please CLICK HERE.
If you are interested in volunteering, please call Jessie at 442-1660.
If you can make a donation to help offset the costs of caring for the dogs, please click here.
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Press releases and media:
'Malamute Munchies' fundraiser to assist Humane Society >>
161 malamutes moved from Lewis & Clark Humane Society >>
Malamutes moved from Humane Society to undisclosed location >>
Rescued dogs move indoors at secret location >>
Malamutes moved to off-campus location >>
The Humane Society of the United States Assists in Rescue of 161 Dogs from Montana Puppy Mill >>
Billings Gazette: 140 dogs, 200 marijuana plants seized from home >>
Beartooth NBC: Man charged with multiple felonies in connection with marijuana operation >>
KRTV: Chilinski facing animal cruelty, marijuana charges >>
Independent Record: Puppy mill and illegal pot operation busted in Jefferson City >>
KFBB: Man Charged With Animal Cruelty, Drug Charges >>
KXLH: Jefferson County man facing charges; 140 dogs, 200 pot plants >>
NBC Montana: Humane Society Rescues 161 Dogs From Alleged Puppy Mill In Jefferson County >>
Man charged with multiple felonies in connection with marijuana operation >>
Older updates:
UPDATE 11-1-11:Local Helena resident Lisa Fairman announced today that she was creating a special dog biscuit, called Malamute Munchies, sales of which would benefit the Mals. Fairman worked with local retail outlets to set up places for people to come purchase the goodies. In Helena, the biscuits will be for sale starting Friday November 4th at the following locations: Van’s Thriftway, The Pan Handler’s, Park Avenue Bakery, Birds and Beasley’s, Montana Book Company, Allegra Print and Imaging and Tread Lightly. They will also be on sale at the shelter’s front desk during working hours. A huge thank you to Lisa and all the retail outlets for helping care for the dogs through this yummy promotion! Click here for the full press release.
UPDATE 10-27-11:More great news and support from around the area for the Malamutes! See today’s Helena Independent Record which chronicles another great story of help from friends of animals: We are s grateful to everyone who continues to step up!
Read "Puppy Love" >>
And a huge thank you to everyone who came out on Tuesday night for the fundraiser Dog-tober Fest at the Lewis and Clark Brewery. Almost $4,000 was raised to help support the Mals!
UPDATE 10-25-11: The wonderful Mals are continuing to get used to their new homes and this cooler weather isn’t bothering them at all! Meanwhile, the support continues; we just heard from our friends at Dee-O-Gee on Main Street in Bozeman that they are running a food/toy drive for the dogs, so if you’re anywhere near Bozeman, stop by! Also our friends at Mind’s Eye Tattoo are offering specials on piercing that will benefit the dogs. We are so grateful for the community’s response!
Please keep checking here for news about fostering, volunteering and/or adopting, We remain connected to the County Attorney’s office in all things related to the future of the dogs, and will let you know as soon as we know anything.
UPDATE 10-20-11: WOW! Today we found out our friends at the Lewis & Clark Brewery on Dodge in Helena have created a special fundraiser called DOGTOBER FEST which will benefit the Malamutes. The event will start at 4:30pm on Tuesday the 25th. If you’re in Helena, please stop by. There will be beer, brats, music, auction and raffle, all proceeds of which will go to the dogs. We are SO GRATEFUL. If you need more info, please call Karen at 442-5960 or visit their facebook page. Meanwhile, the dogs are precious and enjoying eating, sleeping and being loved on. Thank you so much for your support, and if you want to donate, please CLICK HERE.
UPDATE 10-18: The dogs today enjoyed the sun and stretched languorously. HSUS is still here helping in so many ways. Lots of folks have dropped off food and bedding and Kongs. We have also been receiving support from all over the world! We are so grateful for everything everyone’s been doing for the dogs, as well as helping spread the word.
UPDATE 10-17: The dogs spent the weekend resting after their day getting vet checked, vaccinated and micro chipped on Friday. Here are some photos! A huge thank you to everyone who is sending in money. It is costing about $2400 a day to care for the animals, so donations are needed! You can donate securely on-line or mail to Lewis & Clark Humane Society at PO Box 4455, Helena, MT 59715.
UPDATE: We are so grateful to people who have taken an interest in Project Malamute! We’ve received donations from all over the United States and internationally, including Italy, Sweden, England, and Canada. Thank you so much for you caring and support.
Meanwhile, there will be more coverage on local TV stations this evening, featuring footage of some of the dogs while they were getting their vaccinations and health checks. A shout out to the local Van’s Thriftway for supplying lunch for all our volunteers, staff and veterinarians!
The dogs are going to be vet checked today, here at the shelter, by local veterinarians. They all settling in and settling down. More TV and press are coming by this afternoon, so check out local TV stations tonight for more photos and video! Meanwhile, if you missed any of yesterday’s coverage, here are some recaps!