Decomposed Dogs in Burnsville Home Lead to Felony Charges
Formal criminal charges have been filed against a woman following an investigation into the death of two dogs in her care.
Myrtis Yvonne Allen, 38, of Rosemount, is charged with two felony counts of mistreatment of animals resulting in death. Each charge carries a potential sentence of up to two years in prison and fines.
According to the complaint, officers were dispatched to Allen's residence in Burnsville on June 11, 2024, following a report of a foul odor coming from her apartment unit. Upon arrival, officers observed a strong odor and a significant number of flies around the unit's door.
The property manager provided access and officers discovered two deceased dogs inside the apartment. One dog was found decomposing at the bottom of the stairs and another was located upstairs. The entire unit was reportedly covered in dog feces and there were no indications of recent habitation.
Investigation revealed that neighbors had previously reported concerns on May 21, 2024, about persistent barking and the absence of any human presence. At that time, Allen was identified as the unit's resident. On May 21st, officers were able to contact Allen’s mother who stated Allen was overworking herself and that she would bring Allen to the hospital.
Efforts to contact Allen then went unsuccessful until June 17, 2024, when Allen spoke with an officer over the phone. Allen explained that she had been working multiple jobs with long hours and had last checked on her dogs around Memorial Day. She claimed she had vehicle trouble and refused to find temporary housing for the dogs because she was afraid they would be surrendered.
Allen is currently scheduled to appear in court for her first appearance on Oct. 15th.
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