WATONWAN COUNTY, Minn. — Authorities removed 35 dogs — 17 alive and 18 dead — from a rural property near St. James after the homeowners reported suspected animal neglect on Nov. 15, the Watonwan County Sheriff’s Office said.

Deputies arriving at the property that day found 17 living dogs confined to individual crates and described as covered in feces, according to the sheriff’s office. Investigators later recovered the remains of 18 additional dogs that had been individually bagged and placed around the property, officials said.

The discovery prompted a criminal investigation and charges against 37-year-old Laura Berg, who was living on the property after the owners had allowed her to use the site for what they understood to be a pet rescue. Berg has been identified by authorities as the suspect in the case and told investigators, “I became ‘in over my head’ and messed up,” court documents and agency statements say. She is scheduled to make her first court appearance on Dec. 23.

Local reporting by FOX 9 Minneapolis-St. Paul described the surviving animals as severely malnourished; the sheriff’s office additionally said one of the 17 dogs was later euthanized after suffering ongoing seizures that did not respond to treatment. The Watonwan County Sheriff’s Office executed a search, documented the scene for the criminal complaint and took custody of the surviving animals.

The property owners told deputies they had allowed Berg to use the rural residence for a pet rescue and reported the situation to law enforcement when they discovered the animals’ condition, the sheriff’s office said. The agency characterized the incident as an animal neglect investigation and has turned evidence and case material over to prosecutors as part of an ongoing criminal case.

Animal neglect occurs when an owner fails to provide basic necessities for an animal’s well-being, and it is the most common form of animal mistreatment reported to animal welfare organizations, experts say. In investigations like this one, law enforcement agencies typically coordinate with animal rescue organizations to seize animals and arrange veterinary care or sheltering for survivors.

Officials did not release an itemized inventory of each animal’s condition or breed. The sheriff’s office said deputies documented the scene and the recovered remains as part of the criminal investigation. Photographs, evidence logs and witness statements were among the materials forwarded to county prosecutors, the office said.

Animal rescue organizations operate under comprehensive standards of practice intended to protect the health and safety of animals in their care, according to industry guidance. Those standards, developed by groups such as the Association of Shelter Veterinarians and other welfare organizations, set expectations for management, veterinary oversight and sanitary housing for rescues and shelters.

Legal action in cases of alleged animal cruelty or neglect can vary depending on the facts and the jurisdiction. In Minnesota, individuals charged with animal cruelty or neglect face serious criminal penalties that can escalate based on the severity of harm caused, state law allows. Prosecutors will now review the sheriff’s office file and decide on formal charges; Berg faces criminal counts related to the incident and will appear in court later this month.

The Watonwan County Sheriff’s Office led the initial on-scene response and seizure. Officials did not provide a timetable for when the surviving dogs would be transferred to a long-term shelter or placed for care, but confirmed they had transferred custody of the animals to agencies that could provide immediate veterinary attention.

Source

Original reporting: view the original article.