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Judge Rules Humane Society Allowed to Keep Rescued Malamutes until Trial

Chilinski Not Allowed to Sell Dogs While Court Case in Pending

January 25, 2012

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.”

Read the full court finding here (pdf) >>

The judge also mandated Mr. Chilinski should post a bond of $2,000 that would be applied towards the expense of caring for the dogs, estimated to be approximately $12,000 every month.

LCHS Executive Director Gina Wiest said, “We are extremely pleased that the Court ruled to let us continue to care for the dogs. As Judge Tucker noted in his opinion, they are ‘thriving’ and are in a safe, secure and loving environment. Letting any of the dogs go back to their prior home would have been to return them to the very environment in which they needed rescue in the first place!”

Wiest noted that donations continue to arrive to help care for the dogs, and that the Humane Society of the United States offered to supplement any additional funds that were needed to care for the dogs until the case was resolved. Donations can be made electronically at

s or via mail at PO Box 4455, Helena, MT 59604

“Malamute Munchies” On Sale to Benefit 161 Malamutes at Humane Society

Local Dog Lover Lisa Fairman Creates Special Biscuit in Honor of the Rescued Malamutes

Helena: Lisa Fairman, creator of Sonja Begonia’s dog biscuits which last year were on sale to benefit the campaign for a new humane Society building, has debuted a new recipe – Malamute Munchies – and put them on sale at retail locations throughout Helena, it was announced today.

“My heart broke when I heard of the plight of the Malamutes” said Lisa Fairman, a practitioner of Rolfing Structural Integration in Helena said. “Last year’s success of Sonja Begonia biscuits prompted me to create Malamute Munchies to sell to help fund the care of these beautiful dogs.”

The biscuits, made from wholesome beef stock, millet, oats and other fine ingredients will be sold for $7.95 at Park Avenue Bakery, Van’s Thriftway, The Pan Handler’s, Bird’s and Beasleys, Montana Book Company, Allegra Print & Imaging, and Tread Lightly, starting on Friday, November 4th. They also will be available at the downtown Art Walk. All proceeds go to help care for the rescued malamutes.

Liz Harrison, Development Director of the shelter said “We are so grateful to Ms. Fairman for creating a promotion to help raise money in support of the Malamutes. It costs about $2400 a day to care for them, so fundraisers like this really help.”

The 161 Malamutes were rescued by the Lewis and Clark Humane Society and staff from the Humane Society of the United States from a breeder in Jefferson City on October 12th, 2011.