Caring for canines has cost $55,000

A woman passing through the Evergreen area with 26 dogs in squalid conditions in her motor home and trailer has been convicted of animal cruelty charges.

During a hearing last week in Flathead County District Court, Juanita Camille McGranor, 66, pleaded guilty by way of Alford plea to one count of felony cruelty to animals.

An Alford plea allows McGranor, who testified briefly at the hearing, to take advantage of a plea bargain while maintaining her innocence.

Prosecutors will recommend that McGranor, whose dogs have been confiscated by the court, receive a three-year probationary sentence. She will not be allowed to own animals during that time.

According to court documents, McGranor - who was on her way from Washington state to Kentucky - stopped at her son's house on Flathead Drive about June 20.

Several days later, a neighbor notified authorities about the possible animal abuse.

The dogs, both pure-bred huskies and husky mixes, had been confined to McGranor's motor home and the trailer she pulled behind it. Investigators said the floor and surfaces of the trailer, as well as the dogs inside, were covered in droppings.

After authorities confiscated McGranor's dogs, two litters were born but three adult dogs died from poor health, bringing the total number of animals being cared for by the county to 39, Flathead County Animal Shelter Director Kirsten Holland said.

Keeping and caring for the dogs at the county animal shelter so far has cost more than $55,000, Holland said.

Because McGranor claims the dogs are wolf hybrids, the county cannot adopt the dogs out directly to new owners. Rabies vaccinations don't always work on wolf and coyote hybrids, Holland said.

Instead, the dogs will be sent to rescue organizations after being released by the court, then adopted from there, Holland said, stressing that the animals will not be euthanized.

"Once the dogs are released, I don't think we're going to have any problems sending them to rescue," Holland said.

McGranor, a former Troy resident, previously was convicted in Lincoln County of failure to license her dogs, a misdemeanor.

When she was charged in September 2003, McGranor surrendered 15 dogs and three cats to county animal control, according to Lincoln County Justice Court records.

McGranor pleaded guilty to the charge and was sentenced to probation, which she completed in 2006.

Reporter Nicholas Ledden can be reached at 758-4441 or by e-mail at nledden@dailyinterlake.com