By Zech Sindt
On September 12, 2024, a Fillmore County Deputy was dispatched to Cherrywood Estates of Mabel for a report of animal cruelty.
According to their report, Owen Douglas Rasmussen, 68, allegedly attempted to drown a kitten and bury it on the property.
There were two witnesses to the alleged crime. They are listed in the report as LH and NB.
According to LH, the cats were originally strays. Since the birth of the kittens, she and NB had consent from the apartment manager to let the cats stay in the shed, where they had been caring for them. LH says she heard Rasmussen turn on the water outside the apartment complex and watched him fill a small bucket with water. She says he then walked into the shed where the kittens were bedding with an adult female cat. She told NB what had transpired.
NB says she then went to the shed and found Rasmussen inside with the bucket of water and a tool similar to a pitchfork inside the bucket. NB looked at the box with the cat and kittens and noticed a gray kitten was missing. She asked Rasmussen where the gray kitten was. Rasmussen allegedly denied putting it in the water bucket. She says he then took the bucket behind the shed.
Later on, LH and NB heard a kitten crying and discovered it partially buried behind the shed.
Rasmussen is facing two misdemeanor charges of animal cruelty.
A remote hearing is scheduled for October 29 at 11 a.m.
Kris Praxel says
This individual that did this needs to be taught a life lesson by someone!! 😡