Watford City man to serve two years for leaving dogs to die in Ramsey County camper

RAMSEY COUNTY, N.D. — A Watford City man was recently sentenced to five years in prison, first serving two years, for leaving multiple dogs to starve and die in his camper located in Crary, which was hours away from his own residence.

Brandon Tyrell Rogness, 32, pleaded guilty to all six counts of Class C felony animal cruelty in January. He was sentenced June 5.

A Ramsey County deputy was dispatched on March 29, 2024, to Crary, North Dakota,

for a report of a dog seen locked in a camper with blood on its face, as well as other dogs that were suspected to be dead, according to a declaration of probable cause filed in the case.

On scene, the deputy observed an emaciated dog sitting in the window of the camper, and could see the remains of more dogs inside, according to the declaration and information filed in the case. The floor appeared to be covered in feces.

Rogness, owner of the dogs, was contacted to come to the camper so that law enforcement could get help for the surviving dog. When he arrived, he admitted to knowing there was a deceased dog in the camper, and said he believed another one would die due to poor health; he said he checked on the dogs the previous weekend and was planning on checking on them again later that current weekend.

Rogness said he was unable to care for the dogs and was looking to rehome them. The information said Rogness prolonged the situation by leaving the surviving dog in the camper, and allowed all the dogs to starve and otherwise suffer due to a lack of adequate access to food, water or the opportunity to go outside for an extended period of time.

The remains of five distinct dogs were found in the camper, and law enforcement documented an overwhelming smell of ammonia and decomposition.

Rogness has credit for 167 days served in custody. Upon release from prison, he will be on supervised probation for three years. If he violates any conditions of his probation, he risks serving the remaining three years of his prison sentence.