St. Paul Woman Sentenced For Leaving Puppies In Dumpster
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- A 48-year-old St. Paul woman will serve 30 days in the county workhouse for dumping two puppies – one who died – in a St. Paul animal hospital's recycling dumpster.
Anna Bertha Robole was sentenced in Ramsey County Court Wednesday, where she was also ordered to serve supervised probation for two years for her animal cruelty conviction.
On May 7, 2014, Scenic Hills Animal Hospital staff called police after making the discovery. Investigators interviewed the management of the Creek Point Apartments, located just down the block from the hospital, and found that tenant Robole had been the focus of complaints about the abuse of two puppies in April.
Witnesses said they saw Robole kicking the two puppies on different occasions in the head, legs and hips within the period of a month. One witness saw Robole kick one of the puppies so hard that it limped for week, and another witnessed Robole lifting one of them by the collar, choking them.
Apartment management says Robole did not have permission to have the dogs, and was warned that she would be fined.
When police interviewed Robole, she said both dogs were alive when they were placed in the recycling bin, and her intention was for the puppies to be found. She claims she had asked the Humane Society to take them, but they refused because they had never received vaccinations or visited a vet.
The terms of Robole's probation include: follow all instructions of probation, not to own animals while on probation, mental health counseling and recommendations, supply DNA sample, and have no misdemeanor violations or greater.