37 dogs rescued from 'deplorable conditions'
The operator of an animal rescue shelter has been arrested after authorities found dozens of dogs living in "deplorable conditions."
The discovery was made in a raid on a warehouse on the 100 block of W. 88th St. in Bloomington on Tuesday afternoon, the city said in a news release. It came after a report of barking dogs and a foul odor.
In total, 37 dogs were recovered from two rooms in the commercial unit, with the Animal Humane Society saying they found multiple dogs confined to the same, small kennel crates. The organization said they were in "deplorable sanitary conditions, with no water and no existing food."
The owner of the facility, who runs a nonprofit called Luv Me Again Animal Rescue, was arrested on probable cause animal neglect and released pending further investigation, the Bloomington news release says.
Jerrid Buotto, who works nearby, told WCCO he'd noticed a "foul odor" coming from the facility but had never seen an animal in there.
All the dogs are expected to survive.
About the Animal Humane Society
The Animal Humane Society bills itself as the leading animal welfare organization in the upper Midwest, caring for more than 23,000 animals every year. The group has five adoption centers in the Twin Cities.
They take in every animal that gets surrendered to them – no matter their age, breed, or condition. And if they aren’t ready for adoption, medical treatment is given.
In the year between June 2015-16, the society managed to save 90 percent of the animals that came through its doors and place 95.2 percent of those in new homes. That's up from just 59 percent a decade ago.
The Animal Humane Society is a nonprofit, funded by donations, adoption and program fees, merchandise sales, and special events.
