Boone County dog breeder to be in court for bond hearing on abuse charges
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
A Boone County dog breeder is set to be in the Boone County Courthouse Thursday afternoon for a bond hearing.
Melissa Sanders, 26, has been charged with three counts of felony animal abuse and 15 counts of misdemeanor animal abuse. Sanders will be in front of Judge Kayla Jackson-Williams at 1 p.m. Thursday in the Boone County Courthouse.
Sanders owns Magnum Opus German Shepherds. Animal control, assisted by Boone County sheriff's deputies, found 17 living but severely malnourished dogs, with two on the brink of death, according to court documents. Five “intact” dead dogs were found in black garbage bags along with about a dozen dog skulls.
Authorities also found four dead dogs outside the building.
The Central Missouri Humane Society is asking for help in fostering dogs, due to limited space following Sanders' case.
Michelle Casey, of CMHS, wrote in an email that the shelter has more than 30 dogs available for foster care, including four from Sanders’ case. Some other dogs from the case have been placed in foster homes, Casey wrote.
Information about fostering or adoption can be found on CMHS’ website and social media.
