RENVILLE COUPLE CHARGED WITH ANIMAL ABUSE

A Renville couple is facing several counts of charges of misdemeanor animal mistreatment and animal torture on a property they own together.  According to charges filed in Renville County District Court, authorities were tipped off in November by someone who said they had recently purchased a dog from Shane and Roxanne Loeffler’s property that had been “very sick.”  The person told investigators that the Loeffler’s residence had waste all over and the dogs did not appear in good condition.  Vet recordsd from the Olivia Pet Clinic showed that Roxanne Loeffler had taken about 23 litters to the vet but recently had stopped bringing puppies in.  Charges say that on December 9, the Animal Humane Society and law enforcement executed a search warrant and seized 26 dogs and 15 birds, seven of the dogs were pregnant.  Neither of the Loeffles are licensed as commercial breeders.  Forensic exams and evaluations were performed on all the animals and five dogs and two birds were found to be underweight, 19 had severe dental disease, seven dogs were diagnosed with severe orthopedic diseases and five of the dogs were diagnosed with heart murmurs.