BUHL — The Chisholm Police Department released information Monday, April 21, on an investigation it is conducting into possible animal cruelty in the city of Buhl.
A viral video shared on TikTok alleged to show dogs living in poor conditions inside the former juvenile detention center Mesabi Academy, closed in 2016. A Reddit post claimed to share details from the firsthand accounts of those who shot the video inside the facility and included a link to the video and photos.
According to a news release, officers executed a search warrant on the property and located several dogs inside. The dogs were individually checked and confirmed to have access to food, clean water and appropriate shelter, police reported. There was also evidence the dogs were regularly let outside and exercised multiple times a day “in an area where the public cannot see from the outskirts of the property.”
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Police said the property was intentionally acquired to train working dogs being prepared for deployment in the military and emergency response roles, and it is not a traditional pet care or boarding facility. According to St. Louis County property records, the building is owned by Service Dogs LLC, the address of which is listed in Palm Springs, California.
“The structure was designed to simulate real world training environments, which differ significantly from home or kennel settings,” the release stated. “Although areas where the dogs and owner reside were functional, clean, and up to livable standards, parts of the building were in poor condition, particularly in the unused or unmaintained sections.”
Photos in a shared folder linked in the Reddit post allegedly taken inside the building show water-damaged floors and walls and standing water in a hallway. Floors appear dirty, as does a room in which a dog is shown to be inside.
The case remains under investigation and the police said they will continue to monitor the site to ensure all relevant standards are being followed.
“We felt it was important to provide an update to the public as soon as possible, knowing how many people are deeply invested in the outcome of this case and the well-being of the animals involved,” the news release stated. “It’s important to remember that while social media can bring attention to critical issues, it often captures only a moment in time and may not reflect the full scope of the situation.”
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