Thirty dogs connected to an Andover animal rescue are getting new starts — and new names — at the Animal Humane Society in Golden Valley.
Staff has given them names starting with “G.” There’s Guppy and Goldfish, two small dogs who were housed together when they were found and are still being kept together because they showed anxious behavior. Gallop, a Great Dane mix who was discovered malnourished, was getting cheese treats Monday. And Gooseberry is a retriever mix. (There’s no specific reason for names starting with “G,” but it’s common for the Humane Society to give dogs that come in together names with a similar theme or letter.)
Officials removed 22 dogs from an animal rescue organization in Anoka County after carrying out a search warrant in connection with eight dead dogs found in Cottage Grove. Another eight in the Humane Society’s care were brought in from a volunteer who was fostering dogs from the rescue, said Liv Hagen, Animal Humane Society shelter behavior and humane investigations manager.
The Anoka County Sheriff’s Office, Cottage Grove Police Department and Animal Humane Society “continue to work together to bring answers to our community and care for the dogs removed,” said Tierney Peters, sheriff’s office community relations coordinator. No one was under arrest as of Monday as the investigation continues.
“These cases are always very heartbreaking,” but the Humane Society is happy when they can get animals “out of a tough spot and … on the path to having their needs met, and being in homes and in situations that they deserve to be in,” Hagen said.
The ages of the dogs being cared for at the Humane Society range from four puppies that are 2½ weeks old and with their mother, up to dogs who are several years old. “All sizes, all breeds,” according to Hagen.
The Humane Society vaccinated the dogs when they came in, and “we’ll work through individual medical and behavioral needs as well,” Hagen said.
While some of the dogs are social and happy, staff is also “seeing initial fear and anxiety from some of the dogs, so we have started treatment for” that behavior, according to Hagen. Some of the dogs will require more advanced medical care and Hagen said she couldn’t comment on whether all the dogs will survive.
Some of the dogs could be available for adoption as early as a week or two, and others will have a longer road. People will be able to find them on the Animal Humane Society website when they’re ready to be adopted, though the Humane Society points out there are already many pets waiting for a home.
Linked to Cottage Grove dogs
Eight deceased dogs were found along the side of a road Oct. 15 in a rural part of Cottage Grove. They were believed to have been brought into the city for disposal after having died from an illness elsewhere, police said last week. The dogs, all of a smaller variety, were found in the tree line along Grey Cloud Island Drive near Grey Cloud Island Trail in Cottage Grove.
After receiving a tip from the public, Cottage Grove police executed a search warrant on a house in Cottage Grove. A 38-year-old man at the house admitted to dumping the dogs, police said. The cause of the dogs’ deaths have not yet been officially determined and is still being investigated, Peters said.
On Friday morning, the Anoka County Sheriff’s office and the Animal Humane Society carried out a search warrant for an animal rescue located near the 15800 block of Seventh Avenue Northwest in Andover.
“The animal rescue, which is not related to the building’s former occupant, an animal training facility, is believed to be where the dogs died,” according to a press release from the Anoka County Sheriff’s office. The sheriff’s office hasn’t released the name of the animal rescue organization.
The Animal Humane Society is the only organization in Minnesota with full-time humane investigation agents, and they work with law enforcement to investigate and seize animals when needed.
A large case like this is “relatively uncommon,” though the Humane Society gets “many, many reports that we do follow up on,” Hagen said.
People who are concerned about an animal in their community can fill out a report on the Animal Humane Society website or call 612-772-9999.
“If you yourself need help, it doesn’t have to come to this,” Hagen said, adding that people can call 952-HELP-PET for resources for pet food and low-cost veterinary care. “If you find yourself with too many animals, we can help with that as well.”
The Humane Society is “only able to respond to these cases because of the support of our community, the volunteers we have, the donors that we have,” Hagen said.
People can make donations on the Humane Society website.