Doffing case: Seizure of animals in St. Paul

March 25, 2009

Fourteen dogs and two birds were taken from the St. Paul residence of Babette J. Classen Doffing on Wednesday, March 25 after St. Paul Animal Control and Animal Humane Society received complaints of multiple animals at the residence and possible animal neglect.

The Animal Humane Society and St. Paul Animal Control, with assistance from St. Paul Police, removed the animals from the residence. A variety of dog breeds were found in the home and eight were younger than two years. Eleven of the dogs and the two birds are at the Animal Humane Society; three dogs are at St. Paul Animal Control.

Below is video taken at the Doffing residence during the seizure of animals

April 10, 2009

Five of the 14 dogs seized from the Doffing residence on March 25 will remain at the Animal Humane Society (AHS) to find permanent homes, a Ramsey County District judge said Thursday, April 9. The remaining dogs will be placed accordingly: two with Second Chance Rescue, two with Second Hands Rescue, three with Home for Life Rescue, one to be returned to the owner who was under investigation, and one dog to be placed with a friend of the owner.

Chief Justice Johnson made the determinations in a disposition ruling. AHS officials had expected a full hearing where evidence of the conditions could be fully presented. Instead, the hearing did not take place. AHS Humane Investigator Wade Hanson expressed his disappointment. "Because this case involved an individual who has had a prior history of having too many animals and in compromised environments we are very disappointed we did not have our say in court."

April 20, 2009

The five dogs that the Ramsey County District Court determined should be placed with the Animal Humane Society were adopted within one day of being placed in AHS’s Adoption Center.

The St. Paul City Attorney's Office has yet to file charges against Babette J. Classen Doffing in this case. "We're hopeful they will be," says AHS Humane Investigator Wade Hanson. “We want to be able to present the evidence in this case—veterinary reports, third-party reports, and videotape of the way these poor animals were living. And, we want to prevent other animals from being in a situation we're concerned may be neglectful. In the meantime, we’re happy that the five animals placed with the Animal Humane Society have found new homes so quickly.”