Discovery of Dead Puppies Leads to Charges Against Minnesota Woma

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Andover, MN (KROC-AM News) - The discovery of eight dead puppies along a highway in a Twin Cities suburb last fall has led to charges against the owner of an animal rescue operation.

A criminal complaint has been filed in Anoka County Court against 36-year-old Carley Mackenzie Ryan. The St. Paul woman is facing four felony counts of mistreatment of animals, another four gross misdemeanor counts of the same charge, and 14 misdemeanor animal mistreatment charges.

Facebook/Cottage Grove Police Department

All of the charges stem from an investigation that began on October 18, 2023, when an Anoka County Sheriff's Deputy was contacted by the Cottage Grove Police Department, which had been investigating the discovery of eight deceased dogs. Cottage Grove police indicated they had reason to believe the dogs had come from a dog rescue in Andover named "For Furever."

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A search warrant was executed at the business on October 20 and the criminal complaint says that deputies participating in the search were "met by the overwhelming odor of feces and urine. 22 dogs were found in the building and were seized and left in the care of the Minnesota Animal Humane Society.

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The court document says none of the dogs were healthy enough to proceed to adoption without medical or behavioral treatment. The charges also say all 22 dogs "had some form of fecal or urinary scald to their feet," along with urine staining or feces matted into their coats.

Carley Ryan criminal complaint-Anoka County Court

According to the court record, after she was taken into custody, Ryan admitted that the dead dogs that were found in Cottage Grove had come from her rescue operation. She stated that she had acquired the puppies from an auction in late September and soon learned they were ill with Pavro Virus, which is described as a highly contagious and deadly, but treatable condition.

The charges allege that none of the puppies received veterinary care. Ryan told investigators that two of the puppies died a few days after she acquired them and the rest of the puppies died about a week after the auction.

The criminal complaint included descriptions of the 22 dogs that were seized by authorities.

1. Gallop A54635759 a male Great Dane: His body condition score was rated at 3 out of 9 (5 being healthy). Harsh lung sounds were noted bilaterally, suggesting scarring of lungs due to poor air quality in the living conditions in which he was found. He had feces caked in all four paws. Urine and fecal scald were observed which caused swelling of all four feet. Due to the condition of his paws, he had difficulty walking.
2. Gecko A54635780 a male Australian Cattle Dog: He had severe muscle atrophy that was likely attributable to a pre-existing condition but exacerbated by his living conditions. His body condition score was rated at 3 out of 9 (5 being healthy). He was both urine and fecal incontinent and despite that was housed in a crate that was inadequate in size with another dog. Neither dog was able to avoid laying in urine or feces and his hind legs were covered in both with heavy urine buildup note and feces coating his tail. He had alopecia and wounds to the inside of both rear legs where the skin was red, ulcerated, and painful from urine and fecal scald. The exam also noted harsh lunch sounds suggesting scarring of lungs due to poor air quality in the living conditions in which he was found.
3. Gooseberry A54635787 male Irish Setter Mix: He presented with a body condition score of 3 out of 9 (5 being healthy). He had significant mucoid nasal discharge. He also had harsh lung sounds, a hacking cough and increased 8 respiratory effort, all suggesting scarring of lungs due to poor air quality in the living conditions in which he was found. There was fecal caking throughout his haircoat, and he had a strong ammonia smell. He was exhibiting bloody diarrhea and was confirmed to be positive for hookworms, roundworms and whipworms. No medications were found in the building under his name or matching his description. Untreated these parasites would ultimately lead to death due to his inability to retain any nutrition. His condition was guarded at the time he was seized.
4. Gordon A54635761 a English Mastiff: His body condition score was 3 out of 9 (5 being healthy). Harsh lung were noted bilaterally, suggesting scarring of lungs due to poor air quality in the living conditions in which he was found. His fur was matted and caked in feces noted on his tail and on all four feet. His feet were mildly swollen and had interdigital erythema due to fecal and urine scald. He had difficulty walking due to his swollen feet and extremely overgrown toenails. He was rated in poor overall condition at the time he was evaluated.
5. Georgia A54635870 a female Shepherd mix: Her haircoat was dirty and smelled of ammonia. Harsh lung sounds were noted, suggesting scarring of lungs due to poor air quality in the living conditions in which she was found.
6. Gladiola A54635851 a female American Pitbull Terrier: Her haircoat very dirty and matted with feces and urine on all four feet and she had notably overgrown nails. All four of her K9 teeth had significant fractures with nerve exposure, an extremely painful condition. There was no medication with her name located in the building.
7. Goldfish A54635881 a female Terrier Mix: She was the youngest dog at the location, only four months old. When seized her haircoat was dripping with urine, she was shaking and cold. She was being housed with another puppy in a travel carrier that would be too small for one animal, let alone two. At her examination she was noted to be very dirty, had a matted haircoat with feces and urine soaked into her haircoat and an extreme ammonia smell was observed.
8. Gloria A54635792 a female Standard Poodle Mix: She had an active ear infection. Her haircoat was very dirty and matted with feces and urine and presented an extreme ammonia smell. The underside of all four of her feet presented matted fur caked in feces. Harsh lung sounds were noted bilaterally, suggesting scarring of lungs due to poor air quality in the living conditions in which he was found. She was rated in poor overall condition at the time she was evaluated.
9. Galaxy A54635740 a male miniature poodle mix: Presented with feces and urine soaked into his haircoat, all four feet, tail, ventrum and face. There was an extreme odor of ammonia from his haircoat, and he had extremely overgrown nails.
10. Garbanzo A54635697 a female Australian Cattle Dog: This dog was in the best health of all the dogs examined. No significant observations were made.
11. Gardenia A54635704 a female American Pitbull Terrier: Her haircoat was very dirty and oily and her toenails were significantly overgrown.
12. Garlic A54635838 a female Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier: Despite the appearance of recent grooming, she had a very strong ammonia smell from her haircoat. Her feet were dirty and there were feces caked on her ears.
13. Genevieve A54635894 a female American Pitbull Terrier: Her haircoat was matted in feces and urine, noted to be most prominent on her legs, feet, tail and ventral abdomen. Her haircoat had an extreme ammonia smell.
14. Gideon A54635770 a male American Pitbull Terrier: His haircoat was dirty and had an extreme ammonia smell. The underside of all four of his feet had matted fur caked in feces with extremely overgrown toenails. When seized he was being housed in a wire crate adequate in size for one dog, with another dog who was fecal and urinary incontinent (Gecko A54635780).
15. Glimmer A54635733 a female Miniature Poodle mix: She had a dirty haircoat and her feet were matted and caked in feces and urine. There as a strong ammonia smell from her haircoat.
16. Gravy A54635766 a female American Pitbull terrier: Her haircoat was very dirty and matted with feces and urine, including on her legs, feet, tail, ventrum and face.
17. Groovy A54635744 a male Miniature Poodle: His body condition score was 3 out of 9 (5 being ideal). Despite the appearance of recent grooming, he had urine and feces caked on his feet and ventrum and a strong ammonia smell from his haircoat.
18. Gina A54635726 a female Terrier Mix: Her haircoat was very dirty and matted with feces and urine. The underside 9 of all four of her feet were matted and the fur was caked in feces.
19. Gregory A54635835 a male Miniature Poodle: His haircoat was very dirty and matted with feces and urine and there was an extreme ammonia smell from his haircoat. The underside of all four of his paws had matted fur caked in feces and he had extremely overgrown toenails.
20. Guava A54635819 a female Shepherd Mix: There was an extreme ammonia smell from her haircoat. The underside of all four of her feet showed matted fur caked in feces with extremely overgrown toenails.
21. Gumbo A54635751 a male Bulldog: His haircoat was very dirty with fecal and urine staining noted on his legs, ventrum and tail.
22. Guppy A54635886 a female Terrier mix: When seized her haircoat was dripping with urine, she was shaking and cold. She was being housed with another puppy in a travel carrier that would be too small for one animal, let alone two. When seized haircoat was dripping with urine, the dog was shaking and cold. Housed with another puppy in a travel carrier that would be too small.