LAS VEGAS (FOX5) — Las Vegas Metro Police conducted a search warrant at Working Dogs of Nevada near Lake Mead and Tenaya on Wednesday after receiving information about training practices believed to rise to the level of animal cruelty.
Tabitha Berube, 32, and John Johnstone, 38, were arrested on animal cruelty charges. They are now out on bail.
Detectives seized 35 dogs at the facility and took them to the Animal Foundation for examinations.
Dogs arrive for evaluation
The 30-plus dogs were all dropped off at the Animal Foundation by six trucks at the same time. Their CEO is limited in what she can say as the dogs are part of an active criminal investigation for animal cruelty, but she said when they got there, their staff was ready.
“We got our staff ready for this influx of animals that could have been in rough shape, had our veterinary team, had our animal welfare team, everybody ready to give them their exams, make sure they’re safe, get them into safe kennels with beds and food,” said Hilarie Grey, CEO of the Animal Foundation. “What we see, what the condition of the animals is, is going to be part of the court case. We’ve been able to contact a few owners. Some more may have owners. So we’re working on that.”
Some of the seized dogs had owners because the facility offered behavioral training. The Animal Foundation CEO can’t yet say if the dogs that aren’t returned to an owner will be up for adoption.
On Monday, the Animal Foundation has plans to make a dent in the shelter population by flying 30-plus animals to Utah. They say in Salt Lake City, they have more adopters right now than they have available pets, and that will help relieve some of the overcrowding.
The two people arrested will be back in court for their initial appearance on April 29.
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