SNOWMASS VILLAGE — Following passionate arguments from supporters of the Krabloonik sled dog operation and detractors who think the dogs are living inhumanely, Snowmass Village Town Council on Monday declined to take action on a pair of ordinances a dog advocacy group brought forward addressing the tethering and spaying and neutering of the dogs.
The Voices for Krabloonik Dogs, a one-year-old group formed to push for better conditions at the Snowmass Village kennel, asked the town to consider a law that would allow the dogs to spend one hour each day off their chains, and another one that would require most of the adult dog population to be spayed and neutered.
The four council members present declined to pursue either option, although they did agree to look further into some of the issues raised.
Various groups and individuals have come before different councils over the years decrying what they called inhumane conditions at Krabloonik, but none have been as organized or persistent as the Voices for Krabloonik Dogs. The group has had far-ranging support, from letter writers and local citizens urging radical action to two state politicians — state Senator Gail Schwartz (who is from Snowmass Village) and state Rep. Kathleen Curry — sympathizing with the animals’ conditions and supporting both proposed ordinances.
Last fall, during the group’s previous request for action, supporters of Voices packed council chambers, some of them bringing placards and booing Krabloonik owner Dan MacEachen. The Town Council at that time also declined to take definitive action, but directed the formation of an advisory committee that would try to work towards a solution. The advisory committee, which included members from both sides of the issue as well as a veterinarian and another dog professional, met for seven months but failed to come to any consensus on standards of care.
“It’s fair to say we have different opinions on how the animals should be treated,” said Bill Fabrocini, co-founder of Voices for Krabloonik Dogs.
An idea during that time to form a nonprofit organization that would raise money to help care for the dogs failed due to lack of funding, explained Anne Gurchick, a member of the advisory committee.
Fabrocini told the council that after much research, including learning animal regulation laws, talking to mushers and looking into other dog sled facilities, “in our opinion there is quite a bit of neglect and cruelty at Krabloonik. The question is what model do we want to go after, the worst or the best?”
Fabrocini criticized most aspects of Krabloonik’s operation in the off-season, the eight non-winter months when most of the 220-plus dogs are tethered on 5- to 6-foot chains with little activity at the kennels on Divide Road. Based on the group’s research, he argued that the dogs should be allowed to socialize and exercise off their chains for part of the day, that the population be controlled and possibly reduced, and that there be more staff involvement to work with the dogs and prevent any fighting that might occur from increased socialization.
He showed photos and spoke favorably of at least two other dog operations that have large exercise pens, fewer dogs and higher staff-to-dog ratios.
Fabrocini also pointed out that Krabloonik has been in violation of state regulations, and had 10 violations unresolved when Voices got involved last year. The Department of Agriculture, which regulates animal operations, has strained resources and cannot possibly resolve the issue, he argued, because they have only three inspectors for 1,800 facilities. The agency also defers to local government laws when there are any, he said.
“We want what the community wants, what the state senators are asking for and what the Department of Agriculture needs help with,” Fabrocini concluded. “We’re asking you to open your hearts and show some compassion.”
Aspen Animal Shelter Director Seth Sachson told the council that his support of MacEachen’s practices had changed in the last few months due to his work with multiple Krabloonik dogs, and that he believes strongly the dogs “need to be off these chains, for their mental and physical well-being.”
Gurchick, on behalf of the nonprofit Friends of the Aspen Animal Shelter, offered to spay and neuter as many dogs as MacEachen wished at the group’s expense.
Given the floor, MacEachen addressed all of Voices’ complaints, at times expressing incredulity at the accusations. And unlike the previous meeting, he had plenty of support from the audience.
MacEachen refuted some of the Voices’ claims, arguing that only some of chains were 5 feet long (most are 5 1/2 to 6 feet long, he said), that he gives water to his dogs twice a day (rather than once), that he has had a tether waiver for the past 10 years (which allows the dogs to be on a shorter chain), and that there are three full-time staffers instead of two part-time.
“Lack of oversight and supervision, I don’t know what that means,” he said. “We have people there all day and all night.”
MacEachen emphatically denied neglect of the dogs, arguing that keeping the dogs on tethers keeps them secure and comfortable, facilitates hygiene and prevents them from fighting, minimizing the risk of injury.
Putting the dogs in one big exercise pen would “probably create a Michael Vick situation,” he said, a claim that was supported by a couple of mushers who spoke in his support.
MacEachen’s main argument rested on the idea that sled dogs, and particularly his dogs, are different from other dogs and that his treatment of them was in keeping with their nature and purpose.
“I’m only claiming to be an expert on Krabloonik dogs,” he said. “I know my dogs and my dogs know me. They’re secure and comfortable at their houses, they do get exercise and they can touch and play with two or three other dogs.”
MacEachen concluded: “We don’t need any [of the proposed solutions]; there’s nothing wrong.”
MacEachen’s position received support from several people who made public comments, including his sister, who noted that he lived in a tent during the first years of his Snowmass operation some 35 years ago and said that his was business was a “labor of love.”
At least two council members were emphatic in their support of MacEachen as a long-standing local business owner.
“I empathize with Dan” in terms of the specter of changing the rules so that he’d be subject to losing money, said Councilman Reed Lewis. “And I don’t like how this has divided this town, how this has turned into a trial and I’m on the jury.”
Councilman John Wilkinson said he believed the state should handle the matter, and Councilwoman Markey Butler said she didn’t have enough information to judge the matter.
In the end, the council decided to request more information to be considered at an as yet undetermined date. They asked for research into standards of care for dog operations, testimony from a representative of the state, and site visits to both Krabloonik and the Aspen Animal Shelter.
