The former owner of Krabloonik dog sledding kennel pleaded guilty on Tuesday to one count of animal cruelty. It was part of a plea deal with the District Attorney’s Office.
Dan MacEachen was originally charged with eight counts of animal cruelty. The misdemeanor counts came in December of 2013, when the DA’s office seized eight dogs from the Snowmass Village operation that MacEachen owned for 40 years.
The DA’s office says the sled dogs were malnourished and in need of veterinary care. That was after two former employees alleged that animals were being neglected and abused.
MacEachen had pleaded not guilty, saying that the dogs were well-cared for. But his lawyer, Greg Greer says the plea deal was a way for his client and the new owners of the business to move on.
Danny and Gina Phillips have taken over and were recently granted a new lease with the town of Snowmass Village. The town owns the land where the dog sledding operation sits.
MacEachen will be sentenced on April 13. He is facing up to 18 months in jail and or $5,000 in fines.
