HASTINGS, Minn. (WCCO) – A Northfield, Minn. woman has been charged with 16 felony counts of animal cruelty after being accused of drowning dogs — both puppies and adults — and putting their corpses into her freezer.
According to the criminal complaint filed in Dakota County, 61-year-old Dayna Bell owns and operates Bells Kennels in Sciota Township.
Witnesses — who, according to the complaint, included some former employees at the kennel — contacted authorities in Dakota County after observing Bell killing puppies in an inhumane manner.
“The abuse of animals in the manner alleged in this criminal complaint is unconscionable,” said Dakota County Attorney James Backstrom.
The complaint describes one witness arriving at work in 2011 and seeing that one dog had given birth to six puppies. Two of the puppies were already dead, and another two had severely injured legs. The witness said Bell put all four puppies in a bucket of water and put another weighted bucket on top of them.
The same worker also reported seeing Bell, after complaining about money issues, comment “This is a one-stop shop” before taking a number of dogs down to her swimming pool. The witness reported seeing Bell tie a rope around the dog’s neck. At the other end of the rope was a cinder block.
The witness also said a small Papillon dog bit Bell on the arm. The witness said Bell took the dog to the back yard and came back without it, saying “I broke its damn neck.”
Officers with the Dakota County Sheriff’s Department searched the property and found 10 small-breed dogs in a freezer chest. Each had been wrapped individually in plastic bags.
Bell said she didn’t know how those dogs got there, but admitted to drowning puppies in a bucket.
She told authorities she had given away the dog that bit her, but couldn’t provide authorities with the last name of the person in Wisconsin she had allegedly given the dog.
Bell is charged with 16 felony counts of animal cruelty. Each count carries a maximum penalty of 2 years in prison and/or a $5,000 fine upon conviction.
