FIGHTING ANIMAL CRUELTY: It starts with a complaint. We have a story to tell you. Weve kept quiet until now because we wanted to respect the legal process. The case is now over and details can be told. You may have heard of this case in the news recently. It involves a USDA licensed dog breeder located in Pine River, Minnesota. Over 130 dogs and puppies were seized from this breeder last July through an investigation conducted by the Cass County Sheriff Office with assistance from the Animal Humane Society. The animals were not returned. Multiple charges were filed; the breeder pleaded guilty to and was convicted of one count (a misdemeanor - failure to provide proper shelter and shade, Chapter 346.39.4). In 2012 and 2013, Animal Folks filed multiple complaints with law enforcement against this dog breeder, Deborah Rowell, for suspected animal neglect and cruelty. These actions - the complaint - is where the legal process begins so that law enforcement has reason to investigate and the animals can be protected. Exhibit 26 from investigation. Photo of dog pen at Country Pride Kennel in Pine River, MN, owned and operated by Deborah Rowell. Kennel typically housed 120+ dogs and puppies. It all starts with a complaint Based on the jurisdiction, Animal Folks first filed a 200+ page complaint with the Pine River Police Department (and City Attorney), who chose not to act because this breeder is USDA licensed. Because federal law does not supercede Minnesota law, we then filed the same complaint and two more with the Cass County Sheriff who agreed to conduct a full investigation. These complaints were possible due to the courage of a few rescue groups, a local humane society and citizens. They are (by permission): * Tracie Allen * Kathy DuVall, Fairieland Corgi and German Shepherd Rescue * Morrison County Animal Humane Society * Jean Beuning and Karen Marquardt, Minnesota Sheltie Rescue * Amanda Libby and Jim Block Because they were willing to speak up based on what they knew and saw, Animal Folks was able to create affidavits and gather veterinarian records and photos of the hurt or sickly animals surrendered and/or sold from this kennel. As this breeder was also licensed by the USDA, we requested USDA inspection photos and compiled USDA inspection reports that showed noncompliances over multiple years, including one official USDA warning for lack of proper shelter. We also requested and received complaints filed by other citizens in past years, which indicated a pattern of chronic neglect. And we provided law enforcement with scientific studies and resources showing the harm that can be caused to animals by mass commercial breeding facilities that do not invest in proper animal care. The above, and other documents, provided sufficient evidence and information for us to write a formal complaint and suggest possible violation of multiple Minnesota laws by this breeder. Animal Folks was not just looking at Minnesotas animal anti-cruelty law (Chapter 343 - Prevention of Cruelty to Animals); we believed that other MN laws were also violated, such as Chapter 346.39 (Dog and Cat Standards), Chapter 325F.791 (Consumer Protection - Pet Lemon Law), etc. These are existing Minnesota laws and needed to be enforced. Exhibit 10 from investigation. View of kennel area where many of the dogs were kept - exposed to outdoor elements, such as hot summer and freezing winter temperatures. Animal Folks requested an investigation. Step one was getting the research pulled together to compile the complaints. Step two involved submitting each complaint to law enforcement so they could act, which they did. This is an example of what your donations help support. A few more details about this case are below. This email is posted on the Animal Folks MN website at Breeder: Rowell. Additional information, including more photos and legal documents, will be posted on the website in the coming weeks. Please help protect animals. Donate on November 14. Give To The Max Day is November 14 - a major fund-raising day in Minnesota. Please donate to Animal Folks on this date. Our donor page is at link below. You can also pre-schedule your donation (but it requires logging in on the link); or, if you want to donate today, simply uncheck the Give To The Max box at this link. DONATE: Animal Folks More details about the Rowell Dog Breeder case (Pine River) Bobbie was in the worst condition. She was a German Shepherd Dog, about seven years old and used for breeding. When rescued from this breeding kennel, she was what we would all define as a puppy mill dog: physically and psychologically damaged. Photos of Bobbie showing emaciation and difficulty walking; missing tail. Bobbie was one of 12 dogs in the first complaint - given by the breeder to a local rescuer/citizen who then collaborated with the local humane society. They said Bobbie was the worst theyve seen. Bobbie was so emaciated that she could barely walk and, when she did, would frequently fall. Her teeth were rotted and some teeth were missing. Her hair was filthy with urine and feces embedded in it, and her nails were excessively long (not clipped). It was apparent that she had some neurological problem. She trembled a lot and had frequent leg spams. Her belly and mouth were full of tumors, which had not been treated and, it was believed, may have contributed to her starving. Bobbies ear was torn and her nipples, too, were torn at the base with scabs and infection. As if all that was not enough, Bobbies tail had been ripped off. Other dogs in the complaints were also in bad shape and the rescue groups and consumers ended up paying for the care and treatment of each animal. If you attended the Speak Up Rally at the State Capitol last February, you may remember a story told about a German Shepherd Dog who, too, was emaciated, her mouth had been torn, her ear torn, she was full of worms and parasites and she was psychologically broken. That dog, named Gemini, was from this kennel. She, too, was described in the first complaint. Three of the Shelties, also in the first complaint, were so psychologically damaged they acted as if they were catatonic - crouching in the corner and urinating out of fear. They also hid feces under their bedding and were fearful of people. This breeder said she had received these and some other dogs from another breeder. But she also stated (in writing) that, even though she had the dogs for at least a year, she had not brought them to a veterinarian for care. Investigation and Seizure The complaints from Animal Folks provided probable cause of animal neglect, providing reason for the kennel to be investigated. Water with algae and dead mouse The Cass County Sheriff Office followed up on the information and collected additional evidence to obtain a search warrant. The search warrant was executed on July 16. Violations of Minnesota law were seen and recorded by the Sheriff Investigator and his team, including lack of proper shelter, lack of sanitation, lack of shade, lack of potable water, lack of ventilation and other violations. As you may have read in news reports, the team also found a Golden Retriever in one of the outdoor dog houses, dead and rotted with maggots. When asked at one of the civil hearings about this dog, the breeders daughter stated that they smelled something but thought it was a dead rodent. From investigation. Whelping building. Lack of proper ventilation, lighting. High temperatures. A decision was made by the Cass County Sheriff Investigator to seize all of the animals from the kennel - 102 dogs and 29 puppies. The Cass County Sheriff Office did what others had refused to do for years - enforce Minnesota laws. The animals were documented by and transported to the Animal Humane Society, where staff and volunteers helped care for and treat all of these animals. As the holding period lasted over three months, the mother dogs started having puppies and the count grew to over 200. The animals seized Many of the dogs seized had typical puppy mill conditions. The veterinary exam showed a variety of ailments, including hookworms, roundworms, flea bites, ear infections, mammary tumors, rotting teeth, luxating patellas, hernias, scars, long nails, scabby coats, some tails docked, some puppies were anemic, one dog had entropion, and one dog was pregnant and diagnosed with pyometra, resulting in a uterus full of full-size deceased puppies. As expected, the physical wounds and diseases were only half the story. Many of the animals also showed psychological distress. Annie, one of the breeding females seized. Now in foster care. One dog, in particular, a Golden Retriever now named Annie, who is being cared for by RAGOM, is a female who was bred repeatedly. When first seized, she had hookworms, eye infections, cherry eye, ear infections, severe dental disease (four teeth were pulled), leg scars, a thin, scabby coat, and a benign tumor. She was also 10 years old - and pregnant. But her mental state was even worse. As Denise Anderman from RAGOM describes: Annie is now in a safe and calm home but she spends 90% of her time sitting in her open crate. The sadness in her eyes is heart-breaking. This is typical of what we see in puppy mill dogs. We can heal the physical wounds but you never fully heal the psychological wounds. She will never be a normal dog. The person who adopts her will need to understand that, and give her patience and kindness. The prosecution The Cass County Attorneys Office filed a nine count criminal complaint charging Deborah Rowell with violations of Minnesota animal anti-cruelty law (Chapter 343) and MN dog and cat standards (Chapter 346.39). As the animals had been seized, this was both a criminal and a civil case, creating multiple motions that ended up extending the holding time of the animals. After more than three months from the date of seizure, the courts transferred ownership so the animals could be adopted and re-homed. * Register of Actions: Case No. 11-CR-13-1444 (criminal) * Register of Actions: Case No. 11-CV-13-1381 (civil) * Example of one judges order (civil): Denying a motion A plea agreement was made (posted October 14, 2013). The breeder pleaded guilty to and was convicted of one count: a misdemeanor - failure to provide proper shelter and shade. While it is a huge victory that the animals were seized and not returned, the plea agreement was weak with few conditions. This breeder can continue breeding. The goal: To learn; to support Most cases have some victories and some disappointments. But in every situation, we can learn. We want to learn. How can we help authorities so they have the knowledge and skills required to effectively enforce animal protection laws in Minnesota? What do they need? How can we support them? Animal Folks is on a mission to do just that. Please help protect animals by donating to Animal Folks. Help our chances to win additional funds by donating Thursday, November 14, on Give To The Max Day. Thank you for your commitment to animals!
Posted on: Wed, 13 Nov 2013 21:59:25 +0000
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