Bauck acquitted of felony charges

Originally published 08:54 a.m., March 25, 2009
Updated 11:26 a.m., March 25, 2009

A jury cleared New York Mills dog breeder Kathy Bauck of two felony animal cruelty charges Tuesday night following several hours of deliberation.

Bauck wept quietly and muttered “Thank you, Jesus” as the jury returned not guilty verdicts on her two most serious charges.

Bauck was found guilty of four misdemeanor charges: three counts of torture and one count of animal cruelty.

The verdicts came at about 9:25 p.m. Tuesday after six hours of deliberation. Jurors heard closing arguments in the four and a half day trial early Tuesday afternoon.

Neither Bauck nor her attorney were available for comment following the verdicts. Prosecuting attorney Heather Brandborg had no comment, other than to say the state was “very pleased” with the result.

Bauck’s trial included testimony from veterinarians, law enforcement and Bauck herself. Jurors also heard from Bauck’s accuser, Jason Smith, and watched undercover video footage Smith filmed as an employee at Bauck’s breeding facility last spring. The highly-publicized footage showed images of wounded, seizuring and emaciated dogs.

During her testimony, Bauck said some of the injuries occurred after Smith placed dogs in the wrong pens, leading to fights. She said she reprimanded him several times during his two-month employment, which ended the same day a daily logbook went missing.

Bauck’s husband and daughter are the owners of Pick of Litter Kennels as of April 2008. Bauck was the former owner of the facility and remains employed there.

Following the verdicts, Brandborg requested representatives from the Minnesota Humane Society visit Pick of the Litter Kennels to ensure the safety of Bauck’s animals.

Judge Waldemar Senyk ordered the four guilty verdicts be reported to the Humane Society and to the U.S. Department of Agriculture for their consideration.

A sentencing hearing will be held April 24 following recommendations from Otter Tail County Probation.

Five other charges against Bauck, including two felony-level counts, were dismissed in late January.

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