Puppy mill - 30 dogs seized
Minneapolis, MN (US)Incident Date: Tuesday, Oct 20, 2009
County: Hennepin
Charges: Misdemeanor
Disposition: Alleged
Case Images: 2 files available
Alleged: Loretta Mae Roach
Case Updates: 1 update(s) available
City officials confiscated 30 dogs Tuesday from the home of a north Minneapolis woman, after executing a search warrant on suspicion of animal cruelty.
Police suspect the woman bred and sold the dogs out of her home. The confiscated dogs were all Shih Tzu, and many had skin conditions, missing teeth, eye problems, and feces matted into their fur, animal control officials said.
The home's owner returned while officials were confiscating the dogs and attempted to interfere. Police officers detained her in the squad car until animal control officials had finished removing the animals. She received a citation for obstructing the legal process.
Officials became aware of the situation when neighbors called to express concern that the 868-square-foot house smelled like urine and feces and might be filled with animals.
Dan Niziolek, manager of Minneapolis Animal Care and Control, said it appears that the dogs were kept inside the small home at all times.
"You can understand the odors and smells that were in there, stained floors, feces, and things like that," he said.
Niziolek expressed gratitude to the neighbors for contacting city officials.
"We feel fortunate to have intervened at this point in time because it's likely this could've deteriorated much worse," he said.
Niziolek said he expects that animal cruelty charges against the woman will be filed early next week.
Case UpdatesA Minneapolis woman who had 30 Shih Tzus confiscated from her home last week has been charged with animal cruelty for her back-yard breeding business.
Loretta Mae Roach, 74, was charged by the Minneapolis city attorney's office with cruelty to animals and obstructing the legal process, both misdemeanors, after Minneapolis police and Animal Care and Control officers searched her home at 2958 Logan Av. N. on Oct. 20. Authorities were responding to complaints from neighbors who were concerned about the animals' welfare.
Authorities saw the dogs through a window and entered the house, where the odor of urine and feces was "so strong that it made their eyes hurt," according to charges.
Roach arrived home as animal control officers were taking the dogs out of the house, and she tried to block them from leaving with the dogs, authorities said. She allegedly kicked one officer in the shin as she struggled with them.
An animal control veterinarian examined the dogs and determined that one, named Peanut," had feces in its hair and dental disease, while another, Scharmin, had a jaw that was broken on both sides, causing its tongue to hang limply from its mouth, according to charging documents. Roach told the veterinarian the dog's jaw had been that way for two years, the documents said.
A dog named Sweety had pigmented corneas in both eyes from a lack of tears and was missing most of her teeth, Blue had fecal fur balls in his coat, while Fizzy was covered in fur matted with urine, had a major skin problem and was missing most of his teeth, charging documents said.
The veterinarian recommended that seven of the dogs be destroyed because of chronic disease.
Roach acknowledged that she was selling the dogs through a website called "Tiny Paws Tzus," charging documents said. The website appears to be up and running, but offers little detail about the dogs.
Marilyn Fisher, manager of shelter operations for Animal Care and Control, said Roach told investigators that the number of dogs grew when she was unable to sell them, and that she became too attached to give them up. All the dogs are adults, and they vary in age. Half are male and half are female, Fisher said.
Though none of the animals appeared to have been physically abused, none had received veterinary care.
An animal control official said all available dogs had been adopted late last month. Only seven remained at the shelter Tuesday, awaiting transfer to a Shih Tzu rescue organization. | Source: startribune.com - Nov 10, 2009
Update posted on Mar 5, 2011 - 8:24PM |
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