Mat-Su Assembly creates musher-led kennel board after 25 dogs died

The Matanuska-Susitna Borough Assembly on Tuesday created a temporary advisory board composed primarily of mushers and kennel owners to review kennel standards following the deaths of 25 dogs at a property near Caswell Lakes earlier this spring.

The Board for Advisory Review of Kennel Standards will have five members drawn largely from the local mushing industry. The board must deliver a report with recommended updates to borough kennel regulations by mid-December.

Alaska News previously covered the Caswell Lakes incident, where a Willow woman was charged after 25 sled dogs were found dead on her property. Borough Manager Mike Brown has said independent and internal investigations into how the borough handled the deaths are expected to be completed by mid-June, potentially informing the board's work.

The Assembly approved the board unanimously at its regular meeting in Palmer. The board will review existing kennel laws, regulations, and enforcement practices across the borough.

The changes could affect dog mushers, commercial kennels, rescue operators, and hobby dog owners across Mat-Su communities including Caswell Lakes, Willow, and the Palmer-Wasilla area, where dog mushing and kennels are common parts of the local economy and culture.