Animal Humane Society rescues 95 dogs living in unsanitary conditions
Golden Valley, Minn. (KMSP) - The Animal Humane Society rescued 95 dogs from unsanitary conditions as part of an investigation into a Minnesota couple that spanned seven months and more than three different cities.
The Yorkies, Labradoodles and Shih-Tzu's belonged to a couple who once bred and sold dogs. But apparently in recent years, they were doing far less selling and the number of canines kept growing.
AHS had been investigating the couple since last August, when they received a report of a large number of dogs living in poor conditions on a property in Stacy, Minn. AHS agent Wade Hanson visited the property and found dozens of dogs living in the home, garage and pole building.
The owners refused to let Hanson into their home, but agreed to find new homes for the dogs.
Hanson attempted to obtain a search warrant for the property, but the owners moved the dogs to a new location before he was able to do so.
In October, the couple and their dogs were located at a home in Maplewood. The couple was told to reduce the numbers of dogs in the home to only two, but they moved the dogs again before the humane society could legally take custody of them.
In February, Hanson received a report of multiple dogs at a home in Sandstone. Hanson was allowed into the home, where he observed dirty, matted dogs living in unsanitary conditions. The couple agreed to surrender 53 dogs and they arrived at the humane society on Feb. 20.
Hanson learned the couple had more dogs than they surrendered to the humane society, but the couple moved the dogs back to the Maplewood home before he could remove them.
On March 2, another AHS agent visited the Maplewood property and the couple agreed to surrender 42 more dogs.
Many of the dogs have already been adopted into new homes. The remaining dogs are still receiving medical attention and behavior help to prepare them for adoption.
How to adopt
The dogs will appear on the AHS website once they are ready for adoption. As soon as a dog appears on the website for adoption, it will be first-come first-serve to adopt them at the shelter. Dogs can only be adopted in person.
AHS does not plan to put all the dogs up for adoption at the same time, but will instead stagger when the dogs are available.
AHS will be using their locations in Buffalo, Golden Valley, St. Paul, Coon Rapids and Woodbury to distribute the dogs.
Check the website here: animalhumanesociety.org