WOMAN FACING MANY CHARGES AFTER DEAD, MALNOURISHED DOGS FOUND ON RURAL ST. JAMES PROPERTY

A Minnesota woman is facing numerous charges after the remains of 18 dogs and 17 severly malnourished dogs found on a rural property near St. James.  37-year-old Laura Berg is facing multiple counts of animal mistreatment, including felony charges for torture and cruelty and misdemeanors for depriving animals of food and keeping them in unhealthy conditions.  The criminal complaint says the Watonwan County sheriff’s Office was called to the property November 15 after property owners reported finding the dogs.  The owners told law enforcement that they had allowed a friend identified as Berg in the complaint to stay at the residence as she started her own dog rescue sanctuary.  Berg reportedly told authorities that she became “in over her head” and had no explanation for the dogs’ condition.  One of the living dogs did have to be euthanized.  Berg was charged via summons Monday and she is scheduled to make her first court appearance December 23.