Columbia, Missouri – A Missouri German shepherd breeder is facing numerous animal cruelty-related charges following the discovery of dead and malnourished dogs at her property in Boone County. According to sources, 26-year-old Melissa Nicole Sanders, operator of Magnum Opus German Shepherds, is facing three felony animal cruelty charges and 15 misdemeanor charges, stemming from the findings at her Boone County facility.
Authorities found more than a dozen dead dogs, puppies who were denied food and water, a filthy urine and feces filled house, multiple garbage bags were found with dog remains, emaciated dogs who appeared to be eating the corpses of dogs who had died, and one dog, who had been boarded at the facility, who died from strangulation.
The breeder’s website claims their goal is to “produce quality German shepherd dogs:”
“Magnum Opus” is Latin for “Greatest Achievement”. Our goal is to produce quality German Shepherd dogs that are excellent in health, temperament, working ability, and structure. All our dogs are fully health tested, temperament tested, show rated/titled and performance/working titled before breeding. We are a proud AKC Breeder of Merit!
And thousands followed the “reputable” breeder on social media platforms, including Instagram and TikTok, believing the dogs living with Sanders were well taken care of.
Sanders was booked into the Boone County Jail. As reported by KOMU News, she is being held without bond. It has been reported that the surviving dogs are being held at an area animal shelter as evidence.
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