On 9/29/2018, the Stearns County Communications Center received a call of 2 black lab dogs located in the ditch off of Lovell Lake Rd, in the Lovell Lake Wildlife Protection Area. A deputy responded to the scene and located a male and female black lab that had been discarded in the ditch, both suffering from fatal gunshot wounds.
The caller told deputies he had been through the area at approximately 12:00 p.m. and did not notice anything out of the ordinary. When he returned to the area to look for a hunting spot, he noticed a wide trail off the side of the road. This prompted him to take a closer look at the area and he located the dogs.
The male dog appears to be older, all black with a white patch on his chest. The female is a fully grown adult with an all-black coat. Neither dog had a collar but both appeared to have been well fed.
Due to the times the witness went through the area, it is believed that the dogs were left there between 12:00 p.m. and 2:00 p.m.
Upon further investigation, the skeletal remains of two other dogs and a cat were also located in the same area.
The dogs were transported to The University of Minnesota for necropsy to assist in the investigation.
If anyone can claim the dogs, identify the owners or have any information related to this case, please call the Stearns County Sheriff’s Office at 320-251-4240.