Twenty-four sled dogs are resting comfortably at our Quebec Street shelter after being brought to us the evening of Dec. 17 by the State Bureau of Animal Protection.

Many of the dogs are very thin, so as soon as they received an initial examination and were vaccinated by our health care team, they enjoyed a good meal. They were bedded down on blankets in warm kennels, seemingly relieved at the turn of events that brought them to our shelter.

Over the next several days, the dogs will be evaluated for health and temperament and a plan developed to make them ready for adoption. The plan will include socialization, medical care, in-house training, and spaying and neutering. It may be several weeks before the dogs are made available to potential adopters.

According to the Park County sheriff, the dogs lived outside of Hartzel in Park County and were owned by Sam and Diane Walker, who operated the Pawsatrak Racing Sled Dog kennel. Approximately 100 dogs were rescued.

The Longmont Humane Society and the Humane Society of Boulder Valley, as well as other shelters around the state, also received some of the rescued dogs.