MISTY REHDER arrested after twenty-five sled dogs found dead on a property in the Caswell Lakes area

- Alaska, USA -

Alaska State Troopers arrested 35-year-old MISTY REHDER.

According to their press release, on April 15, 2026, the Alaska State Troopers were asked to assist Mat-Su Borough Animal Control with an investigation in the Caswell Lakes area.

Troopers responded to a property in Mat-Su where they sadly found twenty-five deceased dogs.

One dog was found alive and is currently in the care of Mat-Su Animal Shelter. The shelter shared pictures of the furvictim on their Facebook page and referred to him as Woody.

In an early post the shelter said: “Woody is currently in our care and receiving veterinary support, including a carefully managed refeeding program and consultation with external veterinarians. At this time, he is stable and showing early signs of improvement.”

The shelter further said: “We want to acknowledge the heartbreaking loss of the dogs involved in this case.”

To that statement someone responded with the following comment: “You say you acknowledge the loss of the dogs but chose not to [do] anything after NUMEROUS call outs. This one dog surviving isn't justice like you think it is. Every person who chose to turn a blind eye to this situation should be charged with animal cruelty this is absolutely disgusting and shameful.”

In fact, 5WDTV reports that according to neighbors who were interviewed, “Concerns for the dogs’ well-being were voiced by nearby residents going as far back as January”.

Moreover, Anchorage Daily News reports that resident and dog musher Mike Dolinar is the one who discovered the dogs. Anchorage Daily News further reports that Mr. Dolinar “... and several other dog mushers had been calling authorities throughout the winter about problems at the property, but recently he’d heard most of the animals had been adopted out.” When Mr. Dolinar went to make sure that was the case, he made the heartbreaking discovery. He told Anchorage Daily News: “I saw a foot dangling out of a dog house. I just saw dead dog after dead dog after dead dog.”

According to Anchorage Daily News, Mr. Dolinar has a background in veterinary medicine and said that the dogs likely starved to death. He added that one of the dogs was “frozen into a shallow puddle of ice” and that more dogs were deceased “inside a house on the property”.

On the evening of Tuesday, April 21, 2026, during the Regular Assembly Meeting, Matanuska-Susitna Borough Manager Mike Brown announced that both an internal investigation and an external review are underway of how animal control handled the case, following the volume of complaints from the public.

Reportedly, complaints from the community claim that investigators were not doing enough to help the dogs.

REHDER was taken into custody on April 21, 2026, and charged with twenty-six felony counts of cruelty to animals which can be punishable by up to five years in prison per charge.

When the news about REHDER’s arrest broke, members of the community that packed the assembly chambers on Tuesday evening were delighted and cheered. Moreover, resident Kathleen Fredrick circulated a petition during the meeting, calling for those responsible to be charged to the fullest extent of the law.

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Voice For Us Disclaimer: Please note that details may be removed or new information added should updates become available.

In the case of charges being dropped, dismissed, or the case being purged, this article will be rectified accordingly, if official documentation is provided to Voice For Us.

Woody's pictures shared from Mat-Su Animal Shelter.

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