MUSKEGON COUNTY, Mich. — A judge in Muskegon County has issued a ruling on the Howling Timbers Sanctuary case that first entered court in October 2021.
On Thursday, Judge Annette R. Smedley ordered the majority of the wolf dogs at Howling Timbers Sanctuary to be relocated to a different sanctuary. If they cannot be relocated, the judge says the wolf dogs will have to be euthanized.
Two of the dogs that have bitten people will not be rehomed and will have to be euthanized, according to the judge's ruling.
Smedley said the bites were never reported to the right agencies so therefore the owner, Brenda Pearson, was in violation.
13 ON YOUR SIDE reached out to Nancy LaPorta, the owner of Full Moon Farm, Inc., in North Carolina. That facility previously took in a few of the dogs to her sanctuary. She said she is "working with Suzie and Brenda and will step up where needed. There are numerous rescues and approved private owners on standby."
Pearson's attorney is planning to appeal the judge's decision, which means the dogs will all remain in place until an appeals court makes a decision.
“Whether we like the laws or not, we have to follow them,” said Smedley on Thursday. “At this time, I would take those dogs ready to go wherever they needed to go, because I believe that they are a danger at this point. But even though I don't like the law, I will follow the law.”
The window to file that appeal will stay open for 21 days.
►Make it easy to keep up to date with more stories like this. Download the 13 ON YOUR SIDE app now.
Have a news tip? Email news@13onyourside.com, visit our Facebook page or Twitter. Subscribe to our YouTube channel.