Woman charged following dozens of dogs found dead on private property

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (KTUU/Gray News) – An Alaskan woman was arrested on Tuesday and charged after 25 dogs were found dead earlier this month.

According to Alaska State Troopers, 35-year-old Misty Rehder was taken into custody on more than two dozen counts of animal cruelty.

Rehder was the central figure in the investigation by troopers and Mat-Su Borough Animal Control regarding the animal deaths on a private property in Caswell Lakes.

Concerns for the dogs’ well-being were voiced by nearby residents going as far back as January, according to neighbors interviewed.

Matanuska-Susitna Borough Manager Mike Brown said an internal review is also underway into the investigation, as complaints from the community claim that investigators were not doing enough to help the dogs.

“We have a whole community here who cares about dogs, and ‘Promise me that you will check in on them, and you will make sure that they’re going to be okay,’” Buser told Alaska’s News Source.

Brown pushed back on online claims that animal control never responded, but said the outcome shows the response fell short. He also noted that the shelter is caring for one dog that survived.

“We recognize how difficult and heartbreaking this is for our community, and we share in the concern many residents are feeling. This matter remains an active investigation,” Brown said.