Demonstrators hit the streets to highlight animal abuse case

Months after a burned and battered Alaskan malamute crawled onto a porch in Troy, a group of residents in that community and nearby Libby want his abuser brought to justice.

A little more than a dozen gathered in Troy on June 4 for a demonstration calling for the arrest of Percy’s abuser. Carrying placards and a banner advertising a $3,650 reward for information leading to the assailant’s arrest, the group took to the city’s streets.

“There is a monster that is living in our county,” said Missy Leonard as she marched down 3rd Street. “Somebody that could be so cruel to an animal needs to be outed.”

Percy came into the public eye in early March after a Troy resident found him near Callahan Creek, where the malamute likely was scavenging for food. The dog was taken into the care of local authorities, who brought him to an area veterinarian.

Julie Hopfer, who runs Pet Connection Rescue and Sanctuary, saw a social media post soliciting information about Percy’s owner with the hopes of reuniting the injured dog. When no one came forward, Hopfer offered to rescue the animal.

Medical professionals initially thought Percy suffered from frostbite. But on closer inspection, Hopfer said it seemed likely that someone doused the dog with an igniter and lit the animal on fire. Hopfer later learned that a video of the act had circulated among at least a few people in the community.

In the meantime, Percy underwent three surgeries, she said.

“He was in the hospital for a week,” Hopfer said. “He was severely emaciated. He was skin and bones.”

Despite the ordeal, Percy remained in good spirits. Hopfer described the malamute as friendly and trusting with all who have come into contact with him since his discovery.

“He’s a happy boy and he’s just happy to be alive,” Hopfer said. “I have other dogs here, I have cats here, and he never once had any problems with anybody. He is a wonderful dog.”

Percy’s story has a happy ending. About three weeks ago, a man from Lake Louise, a small town near Banff National Park in Canada, arrived in town to adopt the malamute. Percy’s new owner was so deeply committed to picking him up that he underwent the then-required quarantines to get back and forth from Lincoln County, Hopfer recalled.

In the weeks since, Hopfer has posted photos of Percy at his new home in Canada on the sanctuary’s Facebook page. Percy has a trainer and is being very well cared for, she said.

It is “the perfect home for Percy,” Hopfer said.

But residents in Lincoln County who have followed Percy’s recovery and rehoming still want the malamute’s abuser arrested and charged.

Chief Katie Davis of the Troy Police Department said the case remains under investigation. She urged anyone with information that could lead to the arrest and conviction of an individual to call the department at 406-295-4111.

“It’s still an active case; we’re still working on it,” she said.

Those behind the grassroots effort to track down Percy’s abuser have raised money from Montana, Washington, Oregon and as far as away as Arizona for a reward. Toni Crace, who joined in last week’s march, said the case of animal abuse hit her personally.

“It’s just such a terrible thing to happen,” Crace said. “If you’re a pet owner, you love pets. To people like us, it’s no different than if you lit a kid on fire.”

Hopfer hopes the reward and public campaign will encourage an individual to step forward. Someone knows who abused Percy, she said.

“Hopefully, somebody else knows something or one of those people who have reached out, but won’t speak out on record will say, ‘hey, it’s time,’ so the [police] chief doesn’t have to jump through any more hoops,” Hopfer said.