Agencies seize animals in Millersville area

Several state and local agencies, working in conjunction with the Humane Society of Missouri, seized and removed about 25 animals from a home near Millersville on Monday, officials said.

A rural crimes task force removed nine dogs, five cats, five horses and several birds, the Missouri Department of Agriculture said in a news release. The task force, made up of Department of Agriculture, Missouri State Highway Patrol and Cape Girardeau County Sheriff's Department personnel, removed the animals from "substandard conditions," the release said.

The highway patrol said no charges had been filed Monday.

The animals were transported to St. Louis, officials said.

The action came in response to a tip to the Department Agriculture's Animal Care Program's Operation Bark Alert, the release said. The tip indicated that animals were kept in substandard conditions at the unlicensed facility, were used for commercial breeding purposes and nine dogs and a cat, were sold April 21.

The resident of the property was a licensed commercial breeder until 2009, at which time she notified the department she was no longer operating as a commercial breeder and did not renew her license with the animal care program, the release said.

Pertinent address:

Millersville, MO