UPDATE: Dogs seized from Fillmore County dog breeders making recovery

ROCHESTER, Minn. (KTTC) – It’s been almost two months since 15 German shepherds were seized from two Fillmore County dog breeders. According to investigators, they were living in filth and malnourished.

Earlier this week, the court decided the dogs will not be returned to the breeders now facing charges for animal torture and cruelty. Elham Waled Mohammad Alayyoub and Donald Anderson are facing nine charges each.

After three of their dogs died within months of each other, the couple went to the Fillmore County Sheriff’s Office suspecting a neighbor poisoned them. When investigators went to the farm, they were met with the heartbreaking scene. That’s when authorities started an investigation into the wellbeing of the animals.

Court documents detail the dogs were chronically malnourished, ranging in age. Their coats were caked with urine and feces.

“We do see a lot of heartbreaking cases when animals are not cared for properly, and certainly these dogs in particular were facing a very challenging situation,” Humane Investigator Liv Hagen explained.

Hagen works for the Animal Humane Society in Golden Valley and has worked alongside FCSO for this case. Hagen explained malnourishment isn’t an easy recovery.

“Malnourishment is a condition that doesn’t happen overnight, or just in a matter of a couple of days. It is a chronic condition when the animal isn’t getting their nutritional needs met, and so in this case, we had dogs that were chronically malnourished, and so that means that not only have they experienced fat and muscle loss on their body, they also can have organ damage,” Hagen said.

Hagen shared the dogs are overcoming. She said the six puppies will be up for adoption soon. The nine adult dogs will need more time. Hagen explained there is no time frame, but those interested in adopting should watch the adoption website.

“We are thrilled that all of the dogs that have come under our care are doing much better. The condition that they came to us in is unfortunately not a condition that is solvable in just a few days or even a couple of weeks,” Hagen said.

When deciding whether animals will be returned, Hagen explained it comes down to some simple criteria, proper food, shelter and water.

“They do still have a long recovery road ahead of them medically, but they are all showing improvement,” Hagen said.

The breeders will both be back in court on May 16 to be arraigned. If convicted, they face hefty fines and jail time. KTTC has reached out for comment. They breeder said they have nothing to add at this time.

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