Las Vegas, NV (KXNT) – Investigators looking into an animal cruelty case involving hundreds of dogs at two Nye County locations made another discovery Thursday, when they found a number of dogs buried underground.
Several carcasses were discovered on the Amargosa Valley property where Oksana Higgins and Vasili Platunov were running a dog breeding business involving Caucasian Shepherds, a dog often used for security and protection.
Hundreds of dogs have been seized from two properties in Nye County since last month, when authorities became aware of the situation after one of the dogs was taken to a vet.
A judge this week ruled that the dogs could be removed from the properties and taken by the Nye County Sheriff’s Office. Those dogs will be put up for adoption at a date yet to be determined.
Investigators say some of the dogs that were recovered had to be euthanized on site because of their condition.
Higgins and Platunov both face numerous felony animal abuse and neglect charges.
The sheriff’s office has set up a GoFundMe page for donations to help in the animals’ care. The fundraiser has a $75,000 goal.
Shelters interested in helping care for the dogs can email sheriff@co.nye.nv.us.