BEMIDJI — Two people from Hines are each facing 10 counts of felony animal mistreatment charges after Beltrami County investigators found deplorable conditions for cats and dogs and suspected animal remains.
Deputies from the Beltrami County Sheriff’s Office initiated a welfare check after a complaint about a dog with an apparent skin condition running on Aksarben Lane in Hines.
At an initial welfare check in October, 49-year-old Douglas Erickson told the deputy that he and 65-year-old Debra Marshall run an animal rescue for dogs and cats on their property.
The responding deputy noted several dogs in cages with many days' worth of excrement and severely matted fur, and dogs with stained paws from standing in feces. Cats were kept in stacked-up covered crates with overflowing litterboxes.
Throughout the investigation, deputies noted the animals were housed in what were described as “uninhabitable structures,” without adequate ventilation or access to water.
The odors were described as so overpowering that deputies had to periodically step outside due to watery eyes and becoming lightheaded, and one deputy experienced burning sinus pain hours after leaving the property.
Marshall told investigators that most of the confined cats were feral strays that were dropped off or caught by her in live traps.
“In total, deputies observed a total of 50 dogs and approximately 202 cats, not counting the loose barn cats free to come and go as they please," stated the complaint.
In subsequent visits, deputies noted increasingly malnourished and diseased animals and also fewer cats and dogs on the premises — as many as 170 cats were noted as missing — eventually finding a large wood stove ash pile containing bone fragments consistent with dogs and cats.
“The ash pile containing bones near the woodstove was approximately 4-5 feet in diameter and 2-3 feet deep,” the complaint stated.
The bodies of cats were also located around the property in various stages of decomposition.
Horses were also on the property and were reportedly also in poor condition, with ribs, spine and hips protruding and no access to water.
Erickson and Marshall both made their initial court appearances Monday, Dec. 9, after being placed into custody the previous Friday. They were conditionally released with a $0 bail.
The nonprofit Animal Humane Society said in Tuesday news release that the 64 animals recovered from the property are in their care for the 10-day seizure hold.
"The animals were kept in dire, unsanitary conditions without proper shelter, food, water, or medical care. The 64 animals are now being cared for by AHS veterinary and animal behavior staff," the news release stated, with animals suffering from significant medical conditions, including malnourishment, parasites, upper respiratory infections, eye infections, among other injuries.
The Animal Humane Society hopes to reconnect Beltrami residents with missing pets that may have been recovered from the scene.
Anyone who suspects their missing pet may be part of this case is encouraged to fill out this online form.
