COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
A lawyer for a Boone County dog breeder will argue that the animals she is accused of abusing should be returned to her.
Melissa Sanders, 26, is charged with three counts of felony animal abuse and 15 counts of misdemeanor animal abuse after animal control, assisted by Boone County sheriff’s deputies, found 17 living but severely malnourished dogs, five “intact” dead dogs and about a dozen dog skulls on her property. Officers also found four dead dogs outside of her building.
Sanders owns Magnum Opus German Shepherds.
Boone County/Columbia Animal Control will argue to the judge why the animals should be turned over to the Central Missouri Humane Society to reunite the animals with their owners.
Sanders’ hearing begins at 1:30 p.m. at the Boone County Courthouse.
