ST. JAMES — More than a dozen malnourished dogs seized Nov. 16 by rural Watonwan County authorities are now being cared for at an Animal Humane Society (AHS) shelter in Golden Valley.

“The dogs are being cared for by our expert veterinarian teams and behavioral staff. They were a mix of breeds and ages,” said AHS Director of Communications Sarah Bhimani Tuesday.

Watonwan County Sheriff’s Deputy Jaylyn Woratschka responded to a Nov. 15 report of many malnourished dogs at a rural St. James residence, owned by but not occupied by two people who reported the situation, according to court documents.

Woratschka noticed two people at the residence cleaning up a dog that appeared to be a one-year-old Belgian Mallinois that was so underweight, it’s entire rib cage was visible.

The two rural property owners said they had a secondary residence and allowed their friend, Laura Anne Berg of Brooklyn Center, to stay at their residence to start her own dog rescue sanctuary.

The property owners said they recently noticed many new dogs at the residence, all of which appeared to be in poor condition and reached out to Berg and her parents for an “intervention” that resulted in Berg being taken to a hospital for a mental health evaluation.

Deputy Woratschka contacted Berg who could not give an explanation for the poor care for the dogs she received after seeing them on Facebook and Craigslist. Berg admitted she did feed the dogs but not consistently or acceptably.

The AHS reported to Watonwan County Investigator Adam Butler that one of the live dogs seized had to be humanely euthanized due to continuous seizures, according to court documents. That dog in addition to another deceased dog that was seized, will be submitted for a necropsy to determine the cause of death.

According to court documents filed Dec. 1 in Watonwan County District Court, authorities found 18 dead dogs in garbage bags, in various stages of decomposition at the rural site.

Bhimani and Watonwan County Attorney Julie M. Kelley said they could not comment further on the case because it is an ongoing investigation when asked by The Journal if any more of dogs died since the seizure and what dog breeds were found.

Berg of Brooklyn Center was charged with felony animal torture and cruelty and misdemeanor deprivation of food and shelter and unwholesome enclosure from May through November, 2025. Berg’s first court appearance is set for 9 a.m., Tuesday, Dec. 23.

The AHS is a non-profit organization that accepts all surrendered animals.