Tragic Conditions Uncovered: Hundreds of Cats and Dogs Found Living in Squalor in Northern Minnesota. Following two arrests for felony animal abuse last Friday, authorities in northern Minnesota say that over 170 animals are still missing.
The arrests, according to the Beltrami County Sheriff’s Office, after many visits to a home close to Hines, where deputies found numerous dogs and cats living in substandard conditions.
Following a report of potential animal abuse and neglect, deputies made their initial visit to the residence on October 21. According to the sheriff’s office, the owners were consulted about issues including proper food and water, inadequate ventilation, a buildup of animal waste, and the requirement for medical attention.
Deputies returned to the property with a search warrant on October 29. Authorities said they found about 50 dogs and 202 cats during the search. “Due to them running loose on the property,” the sheriff’s office reports, a number of other cats were also missing. Additionally, deputies saw that nothing had changed.
On November 12, deputies went back to make a follow-up visit with the Animal Humane Society’s help. The sheriff’s office says it started planning to seize the cats and dogs once housing arrangements could be made because of the unimproved living conditions.
Thirty-four dogs and thirty cats were retrieved by the sheriff’s office, veterinarians, and Animal Humane Society staff, according to court filings. About 170 of the animals are still missing, and many were not found.
An outside woodstove and ash pile were discovered by those on the scene, according to the Beltrami County Sheriff’s Office, and contained “numerous bones and bone fragments…too numerous to count.”
Authorities claim that several of the animals showed signs of severe disease and malnourishment.
According to Dr. Graham Brayshaw, who was present with law enforcement during the rescue, it was the worst case of animal abuse he had ever witnessed.
Because to their living conditions, they lacked proper access to food, water, shelter, and medical attention. According to Brayshaw, several of them suffered from pulmonary conditions and other ailments that were not receiving treatment. “The floors themselves were actually squishy from the amount of excrement that has built up over months and sometimes years.”
Some of the animals will be available for adoption in the coming weeks, but others may require months to recover to full health, according to the Animal Humane Society.
According to Lizzie Carr, a behavior specialist at the Animal Humane Society, “it’s very rewarding to take these animals out of those situations, be the ones who work with them every day, and eventually get to see them go into new homes.”
Douglas Erickson, 49, and Debra Marshall, 65, have both been charged with 10 counts each of overwork/mistreatment of animals – torture. Their next court date is scheduled for Dec. 30 and they could face up to 20 years in prison.
