Watonwan County Investigates Animal Neglect Incident
On November 15, 2025, at approximately 1910 hours, the Watonwan County Sheriff’s Office received a report from a property owner regarding concerns at a rural property they own but do not reside at. The owners advised that a friend had been permitted to operate a nonprofit pet rescue on the premises. Upon checking the location, the owners discovered that multiple dogs appeared to be in poor condition. The pet rescue owner was contacted and given an opportunity to address the animal’s health concerns.
On November 16, 2025, at approximately 1818 hours, deputies were called back to the same property by the property owners, who reported locating several deceased dogs on the premises. Watonwan County investigator Adam Butler responded to assist with the investigation. The Animal Humane Society was also contacted and responded with their critical response team.
The Humane Society, working alongside Investigator Butler, removed all surviving dogs from the property and transported them to their facility for veterinary evaluation and treatment.
An investigation report has been forwarded to the Watonwan County Attorney’s Office for review. This case remains under investigation and is pending potential charges.
No further details will be released at this time.
