GOLDEN VALLEY, Minn — Dozens of dogs are receiving medical and behavioral care and improving after they were seized from an Anoka County rescue organization late last week.
The Animal Humane Society (AHS) is taking care of 30 animals, 22 that were taken from the organization while a search warrant was being executed on Oct. 20 and another eight that were being cared for in foster situations associated with the rescue. The warrant was related to the discovery of eight dead dogs dumped in Cottage Grove five days earlier.
AHS Shelter Behavior and Humane Investigations Manager Liv Hagen updated reporters on the situation Monday, describing the dogs being cared for as a variety of breeds ranging in age from puppies 2-and-a-half-weeks-old to full-grown dogs several years old, adding that they are hungry, thirsty and are being bathed and groomed. Some are undergoing treatment for fear and anxiety.
"These cases are heartbreaking. They tend to stir up a lot of emotion for all of us, but we also know that we have these dogs on the first step toward the life they deserve," Hagen explained. "We all go home and hug our pets a little bit tighter when this happens."
Hagen said that the four puppies who were removed from the facility in Andover are with their mother and doing well. Additionally, some of the rescued dogs could be available for adoption in a week or two. They will be put on the AHS website when ready. Others face an uphill road, with behavioral and health needs that have to be addressed. While AHS has a goal of every animal being adopted, each case has to be evaluated.
Dogs shown to reporters during the press conference were noticeably thin and in need of grooming.
Hagen would not comment on the cause of death for the dogs that were dumped in Cottage Grove, saying that is a matter for Anoka County authorities to address. A spokesperson for the rescue organization said the dogs died from an outbreak of parvo, but that has not been confirmed.
At this point there has been no word on potential charges for the person who reportedly confessed to dumping the dogs or others potentially involved in the rescue organization.
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