'For Furever' Dogs Were 'Caked' With Feces, Had Urine Scalds: Police

ANOKA COUNTY, MN — A 36-year-old St. Paul woman faces 22 animal cruelty charges in connection with unhealthy dogs seized from a rescue operation. Many of the dogs were found with their fur caked in feces and soaked in urine, according to police.

At least two had difficulty walking, and several of the dogs were scalded and were not housed properly, investigators said.

Carley Mackenzie Ryan was charged Monday following a months-long investigation. The charges include counts of felony animal torture and misdemeanor unwholesome enclosure.

The criminal complaint provided summaries of the conditions the dogs were found in. Find descriptions of three of the 22 dogs below:

Gallop, male Great Dane:

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.

Gecko, male Australian Cattle Dog:

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.

Gooseberry, male Irish Setter mix:

Had harsh lung sounds, a hacking cough and increased 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.

Gordon, English Mastiff:

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.

On Oct. 18, Cottage Grove police alerted the Anoka County Sheriff’s Office about possible animal cruelty taking place in Andover.

Eight dogs were found dead and discarded in Cottage Grove over the weekend, and investigators believed they came from an Andover dog rescue named "For Furever."

The website for the business listed Ryan as the founder, authorities said.

Later that night, a deputy found a car registered to Ryan behind a closed business in Andover. No one was in the building, "but the smell of feces was strong" and the deputy could see several dogs around loose in the building and some dogs in kennels, according to the criminal complaint.

On Oct. 20, members of the Anoka County Sheriff’s Office and the Humane Society searched the building.

Once inside, deputies were met by the overwhelming odor of feces and urine, according to the criminal complaint. The floor was wet and covered in a layer of excrement, investigators said.

An agent from the Humane Society obtained ammonia readings from 44.7ppm to 48.1ppm, according to police. High ammonia exposure in animals can cause infection, scarring of lung tissue, and potential lifelong issues from the exposure, authorities noted.

Investigators found 22 dogs inside the building. They were being housed in cages that were inadequate in size, lacked bedding and none of the enclosures contained food or water, according to the criminal complaint.

Medical evaluation and treatment determined that all 22 dogs had some form of fecal or urinary scald to their feet and urine staining or feces matted into their coat, police said.

The scalding occurred due to the dog’s lack of access to a clean and dry place to stand or lay, the criminal complaint states.

Of a Great Dane, investigators noted that the dog "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."

In a police interview, Ryan acknowledged that the eight dead dogs found discarded in Cottage Grove had come from her rescue, according to authorities.

Ryan acquired the puppies from an auction in late September and about a week later, they contracted Parvo Virus, the criminal complaint states. All eight puppies died in her care by Oct. 8, authorities said.

"At no time did any of the puppies receive any licensed veterinary care, and with no pain management, the eight puppies "went through a painful and prolonged demise," the criminal complaint states.