Fairbanks North Star Borough commission accepts late Animal Control documents, reconvenes Fleming dangerous‑animal appeal

The Fairbanks North Star Borough Animal Control Commission on Dec. 29, 2025 voted 7‑0 to accept late documentation submitted by Animal Control and to reconvene the Fleming dangerous‑animal appeal on Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2026, at 6:00 p.m.

The case involves owners Christie and Holden Fleming and the animal known as Bering (microchip number 981020037339556), incident B25-003559 reported on Nov. 2, 2025. At the Dec. 29 session commissioners reviewed procedural rules for quasi‑judicial hearings under chapters 4.04 and 4.16 of the Fairbanks North Star Borough code and administered oaths to witnesses before debating whether to accept additional materials that had been submitted after the document‑exchange deadline.

Commissioner Rudy moved to accept the late material from Animal Control with the stated intention of reconvening so all parties and commissioners could fully review the records; Commissioner Sherman seconded. The commission then voted, by roll call, 7‑0 to accept the documentation. The presiding officer announced the hearing will reconvene on Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2026, at 6:00 p.m.

During discussion appellants and some commissioners said receiving 52 pages minutes before the meeting did not give them adequate time to review technical or veterinary items and raised concerns about fairness and precedent for future appeals. An Animal Control representative said the missed inclusion of the material in the timed document exchange was an oversight, describing it as, "an honest oversight," and said copies were made available on arrival.

The commission debated intermediate options — a short recess to review the files versus postponing and reconvening on another date — and at one point a motion was made not to accept any further documentation that day. That motion was withdrawn following a roll call vote on the withdrawal. Commissioners discussed the risk of ex parte appearance (whether viewing documents outside the record could affect impartiality) and were advised that once documents are put on the record they would be considered part of the case whether reviewed today or at the reconvened hearing.

The commission’s acceptance of the documents does not itself resolve the underlying dangerous‑animal determination. The accepted materials will be part of the record for the resumed hearing, at which the commission can affirm, reverse, or modify the animal control officer’s determination after hearing testimony and reviewing evidence. The next session is scheduled for Jan. 6, 2026, at 6:00 p.m. in the borough chambers.

Details noted on the record: 52 pages of additional materials were provided; incident number B25-003559 and the animal microchip number 981020037339556 were recorded; the alleged incident date is Nov. 2, 2025. No final decision on the dangerous‑animal designation was made at the Dec. 29 session.