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Meet the animals rescued from northern MN home
Deputies in Beltrami County have seized dozens of animals from a purported animal rescue in northern Minnesota.
HINES, Minn. (FOX 9) - Deputies in Beltrami County have seized dozens of animals from a purported animal rescue in northern Minnesota.
What we know
According to a criminal complaint filed on Monday, the animals were seized from a home in Hines, Minn. – about 20 miles northeast of Bemidji.
The owners of the rescue, Douglas Erickson and Debra Marshall, are now facing multiple charges of animal mistreatment and neglect.
The investigation began after a caller reported finding a skinny and hairless dog in the area of the suspects' home on Aksarben Lane in late October. The tipster was directed by a neighbor to a home down the road, where she couldn't find the owner but did see many dogs being kept in cages.
One of the dogs rescued from the home in Beltrami County is now getting treatment at the Animal Humane Society.
Digging deeper
Deputies ultimately inspected Erickson and Marshall's home multiple times, starting in October. At the home, they found about 200 cats and 50 dogs living in unsanitary conditions, without enough food and water and "standing urine and piles of feces."
When speaking with deputies, Erickson said he and Marshall run an animal rescue at the property.
Deputies returned in November for a follow-up investigation and found many of the animals missing.
According to the complaint, Marshall told deputies one dog that was in a kennel had been "euthanized" but Erickson refused to discuss the euthanasia, claiming it was "too personal."
Last week, deputies obtained a search warrant and searched the property. This time they found even fewer cats. They also discovered animal bones in a wood stove ash pile. The Animal Humane Society says those bones "are evidence" in the case.
Deputies said about 170 cats were missing.
The dogs and cats who were still at the home were still in bad condition and ultimately seized.
Context
The Animal Humane Society says they were able to rescue 64 animals in total, including 35 dogs and 29 cats, from the home. They are still working to get two dogs and three cats that were roaming on the property.
One of the dogs has been caught and is in the process of being transported to the Animal Humane Society. Efforts are being made to catch the remaining animals.
All the rescued animals were lacking food and medical treatment. The Animal Humane Society is now treating them for fleas and infections.
The Animal Humane Society calls the conditions at the home "dire" with some animals even fighting each other to eat pieces of feces.
"They didn't even get basic care," said Dr. Graham Brayshaw with the Animal Humane Society. "They were barely getting enough [food and shelter] to eek out and survive. We saw them, actually, one of the earlier times on scene even fighting over a piece of stool between them – to eat."
Some of the animals rescued could be ready for adoption in the coming weeks, officials say.