15 Dogs Victimized in Southeast Minnesota Animal Cruelty Case

Preston, MN (KROC-AM News)- A pair of dog breeders have been charged in connection with a southeastern Minnesota animal cruelty case. 

Read More: 15 Dogs Seized During Animal Rescue Operation in SE Minnesota

It began last month when the two defendants reported to law enforcement that one of their dogs had unexpectedly died. 

The criminal complaint says the men suspected a person they don’t get along with of poisoning the animal and said it was the second unexpected death of one of their dogs in the past few months. 

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The investigator the breeders met with suggested they have a veterinarian determine their dog’s cause of death. 

The men took their advice and that decision led to the seizure of the rest of their dogs by the Fillmore County Sheriff’s Office. 

Le Roy Dog Breeders Charged in Animal Cruelty Case

Prior to the rescue, the veterinarian the men took their deceased dog to determine the dog died of “cardiovascular insufficiency/failure associated with intestinal volvulus,” the complaint says. 

The vet’s report also indicated the dog was dehydrated and at a high risk of starvation.  An investigator who visited the site described the living conditions as poor with fecal matter on the floor and the strong odor of urine in the area the dogs were kept. 

The investigator also encountered what he suspected of being a malnourished dog. A news release issued by the sheriff’s office last month said 15 dogs were removed from the rural LeRoy property on Feb. 20. 

Nine were adult dogs and six were puppies. All of the dogs are German Shepherds. 

Many of the dogs were described as malnourished and had feces covering their fur, the charging documents say.

The Animal Humane Society, which assisted in the rescue of the dogs, evaluated the rescue animals and scored them based on their wellness. On a scale of one to nine, the dogs conditions ranged in rating from 1.5 to three, the complaint says. 

As a result of the rescue and evaluation, the Fillmore County Attorney’s Office filed nine misdemeanor animal mistreatment charges each against 89-year-old Donald Norval Anderson and 45-year-old Elham Waled Mohammad Alayyoub. 

The two Le Roy men are scheduled to be arraigned in Fillmore County Court in May.