Wheat Ridge, United States - February 01, 2025 A disturbing scene unfolded at the LaQuinta Inn on Youngfield Service Rd. when Wheat Ridge officers responded to a welfare check on February 1. Officers discovered 11 German shepherd puppies living in horrific conditions, prompting an animal cruelty investigation. Body-worn camera footage revealed the stark reality of the situation. Officer Timothy Haines described the overwhelming stench and the cramped, unsanitary space where the puppies were confined. Five puppies were found in a single kennel, and one was bleeding. The room was coated in feces, with clogged sinks, toilets, and bathtubs. "The first reaction is just disgust. The secondary reaction is a lot of anger," said Haines. "Those puppies don’t get to say, ‘Can I go outside? Can I have food?’ They were just sitting in the kennels crying." The puppies were impounded and treated for GI infections at a local shelter. Despite their grim start, they soon flourished, becoming playful and happy once they were given food and water. The owner faces 11 counts of animal cruelty or inhumane treatment and was scheduled for court on Tuesday. However, authorities report she failed to appear, and a warrant for her arrest will be issued.