St. Paul woman, Anna Robole, pleads guilty after leaving 2 puppies in dumpster

MINNESOTA -- A St. Paul woman has pleaded guilty to one count of felony animal cruelty after leaving puppies in a dumpster.

Anna Robole (Anna Bertha Robole), 47, entered the plea Wednesday in Ramsey County District Court.

In May, authorities said two dogs were found in a trash bin behind the Scenic Hills Animal Hospital on Burns Avenue, near White Bear Avenue, in St. Paul.

Hospital staff called police after they found the malnourished puppies, one of which was dead. A necropsy couldn't determine a cause of death.

The surviving puppy found in the dumpster

Robole told authorities she "left the puppies in the trash hoping someone at the animal hospital would save them".

Witnesses told police she had kicked the puppies, choked them with their collars and covered their mouths with duct tape.

Robole is set to be sentenced in February.

Animal hospital workers named the surviving dog Scrappy and he was quickly adopted.

(TwinCities.com / Pioneer Press - Dec 18, 2014)

Earlier:

• Woman charged with abandoning puppies in dumpster