A St. Ignatius couple could be facing felony charges of animal abuse after the Lake County Sheriff’s Office received reports of dozens of dogs being held in unsanitary conditions.
The sheriff’s office applied for a search warrant for LDR Kennel on Dublin Gulch Road and served it on the morning of July 26. Deputies found more than 120 dogs at the kennel. Eleven of the animals were removed from the kennel for medical treatment and the owners were cited with animal cruelty.
Sheriff Don Bell said the case has been handed off to the Lake County Attorney’s Office, which will determine if formal charges are filed.
On July 28, seven of the dogs that were seized were returned to the kennel while four were still receiving medical treatment.
Earlier this month, the sheriff’s office received a report from someone requesting a welfare check on the dogs at the kennel. According to the reporting party, there was a terrible smell coming from the facility and at least one dog had its hair matted and smelled like urine. The reporting party noted that the dog looked to be in poor health.
Upon further investigation, the sheriff’s office found that there had been multiple complaints about the kennel, owned by Larry and Nadene Latzke, but in the past the owners never let officers inspect the property.
According to LDR’s website, the couple have been raising “quality puppies” for more than 25 years.
“We raise our puppies in the most loving, humane, clean environment possible,” the website states. “They are definitely loved and socialized.”