"It's just maddening someone would come here and do that," Bess said.
A family had looked at the dog earlier and planned to adopt Starr, Bess said. Starr has a distinctive scar on his forehead, the result of a bit from his mother when he was a puppy. Bess said the thief used bolt cutters to cut a padlock on the door to the dog kennel building, and when that didn't work, cut a padlock on the door from the inside kennel to the outside pen.
Starr was originally owned by a Sterling woman, Carolyn Boughton, who was convicted of animal cruelty last year for improperly caring for 66 dogs. He was adopted by a Soldotna woman who then surrendered him to the Homer Animal Shelter. According to the Peninsula Clarion, Boughton received a one-year suspended jail sentence, was ordered to pay a $5,000 fine and was placed on five years probation. During her probation Boughton was prohibited from owning any animals other than an elderly miniature schnauzer. Bess said Starr had not been abused. Anyone with information on the dog theft is asked to call the Homer Police at 235-3150.
Alaska State Troopers arrested a 48-year-old man last Friday following a domestic violence incident. Todd Rantala was charged with first-degree burglary, a felony, three counts of fourth-degree assault, fifth-degree criminal mischief, interfering with a report of domestic violence and resisting arrest. Rantala was taken to the Homer Jail.
According to the criminal complaint, at about 8:30 p.m., Rantala's ex-girlfriend told troopers that he came to her North Fork Road house at about 7 p.m., and banged on the door. She told him their relationship was over and to leave. Troopers allege Rantala shut off power to the house, broke out a window and entered. The woman tried to call troopers, but the phone was dead. She then ran out of her house with her two children and they went to a friend's house. She told troopers she saw the phone wires were ripped out of the phone box.
Troopers contacted the woman at her friend's home, and escorted the woman and her children to their home to collect personal belongings. Troopers found Rantala hiding under the house. When he was ordered to come out, he ran away. Trooper Arthur Dunn caught Rantala and took him to the ground. When Rantala refused to place his hands behind his back or quit resisting, Dunn pepper sprayed him. According to court records, the Homer Office of Children's Services had obtained a restraining order against Rantala on behalf of the children prohibiting him from being within 500 feet of their home..
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