LIBBY — A Eureka man was arraigned in Lincoln County District Court Monday afternoon on dozens of charges of animal cruelty after more than 50 animals were seized from his property in July.
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Ilya Kovalenko faces up to 210 years in the Montana State Prison on 105 felony animal cruelty charges for allegedly failing to provide food and water, confining animals and failing to provide adequate medical care.
Charging documents state that the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office and U.S. Border Patrol Agents executed a search warrant on Kovalenko’s property in Eureka on July 17.
During the search warrant, law enforcement seized 40 dogs, two ponies, two rabbits, four cats, two chickens, one goat and one deceased dog.
The sheriff’s office said the dogs were the primary concern regarding the cruelty aspect of the investigation.
Charging documents state that the majority of dogs were kenneled together in enclosures and received minimal shelter from the heat.
The sheriff’s office said multiple dogs had urine- and feces-soiled bedding.
Charging documents state that multiple dogs were housed in plywood enclosures with only small openings for ventilation.
A veterinarian determined the deceased dog's cause of death was unknown due to body decomposition.
Lincoln County Animal Shelter Manger Tammy Brown said all the animals have since been re-homed except for four huskies that remain at the shelter.
Brown said the huskies are up for adoption with all adoption fees waived through Oct. 31.
Kovalenko’s jury trial is scheduled for next May.
