Jury Convicts Accused Dog Killer of Animal Cruelty

Northfield resident Dayna Kristine Bell, 62, was found guilty of 13 felony counts of animal cruelty in connection with the deaths of numerous puppies and dogs in her care in September 2011.

Bell, who was convicted by a Dakota County jury Friday, is the owner and operator of Bells Kennels in Sciota Township. 

In a press release following the verdict, Dakota County Attorney James Backstrom said: "We are pleased the jury held her accountable for these egregious actions."

As previously reported by Patch, was charged with 16 counts of animal cruelty, all felonies:

According to a criminal complaint filed with the court, the Dakota County Sheriff's Office received a report of cruelty and maltreatment of animals by Bell in September 2011.

A former employee reported that Bell was drowning puppies, in one case taking a rope that was attached to a cinder block and tying it around a puppy's neck and throwing the block and puppy into a pool, according to the complaint.

The former employee also told authorities that Bell claimed to break the neck of a small dog that bit her and then said, "That (expletive) will never bother any of us again. I broke its damn neck."

Another witness, also a former employee, told police that Bell put a puppy in a bucket of water and then placed another bucket on top to hold the puppy down. 

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