Faribault man charged with dumping puppies

By TIM HARLOW, Star Tribune

Last update: April 23, 2008 - 2:14 PM

A Faribault man who allegedly dumped two newborn puppies in a Dumpster and left them for dead has been arrested and charged with six counts of abandoning and torturing animals, according to a criminal complaint filed Tuesday in Rice County District Court.

It took detectives nearly a week to piece together the events that led them to Rolland James Wright, who was arrested Monday night at his home at 18 NW. 12th Street, the complaint said.

According to the complaint, Wright, 44, admitted that he ditched the dogs at the Kwik Trip North in Faribault because of "interbreeding and financial problems."

Faribault police and Animal Control officers found Wright after receiving an anonymous tip as well as a call from a woman who got a dachshund puppy from another woman who lived near the convenience store, the complaint said. They also interviewed local veterinary technicians at two clinics where Wright's wife, Candace, had brought dachshunds for treatment, the complaint said.

Officers with a search warrant removed 17 dogs and five cats from the residence. Candace Wright told officers that one of her dachshunds had been interbred with another dog and had given birth to three puppies on April 15. She said her husband, Rolland, took two of the newborn dogs and disposed of them, but that she didn't know where, the complaint said.

At about 9:50 p.m. on April 15, a customer heard a whimpering noise coming from the trash bin and found the two palm-sized dogs inside a plastic bag that had been tied shut, the complaint and police said.

A representative from the Rice County S.A.F.E. Sanctuary dog rescue took the puppies to Connie Glarner, who has experience raising young unwanted dogs. Glarner got up every two hours to bottle-feed the cold and emaciated pups to keep them alive through the night.

The puppies are in Milaca, Minn., with a couple whose dog has six newborns of her own, Glarner said.

The puppies -- named Taxi and Iris because they were found on tax filing day -- will be available for adoption in June if they survive.

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