Las Vegas, NV (KXNT) - The Nye County Sheriff's Office has discovered dozens of frozen puppies at unregistered facilities, an investigator said outside court Monday.
Sheriff’s deputies, animal control officers and veterinarians have worked for a week to care for the 300 dogs found living in unsanitary conditions in two locations: One in Amargosa Valley and a second in Pahrump.
A judge granted the sheriff's office control of the dogs on Monday, allowing them to be moved to the county shelter. The dogs could be up for adoption within a month.
Capt. David Boruchowitz with the Nye County Sheriff’s Office did not comment further on the discovering of the frozen dogs, only saying investigators found "dozens."
"We don't have enough room inside the shelter," Boruchowitz said Monday. "We will be moving his kennels and be putting systems in place out here behind the shelter to care for them locally."
Investigators said they first came out to the property last Monday for a report of an injured animal. The majority of the dogs are Caucasian Shepherds, a large breed sold for security and protection. The dogs’ ages ranged from a week-old puppy up to 9 years.
Deputies arrested Oskana Higgins, believed to be the dogs’ caretaker, and Vasili Platunov, the person who ran the business, on felony animal abuse and neglect charges in relation to the injured-animal call, Boruchowitz said. Each now face dozens of more charges.
In court on Monday, Higgins made bond and was released. Platunov remains in custody. A status hearing on the case will happen in two weeks.