Dozens of starving dogs seized in Finland after years of alleged severe neglect

A Finnish public broadcaster Yle investigation has revealed the extreme conditions endured by 161 dogs seized from two German women in North Karelia, with over 60 animals so severely malnourished or diseased that they had to be euthanised.

Police discovered 111 dogs in critical condition—along with one dead, starved animal—in the women’s van on New Year’s Eve 2024. Within days, authorities removed a total of 161 dogs from their care. The animals were found underweight, dehydrated, and living in filth, with some eating each other’s feces. Over half of the dogs taken from the van were euthanised due to severe malnutrition, untreated injuries, and chronic illnesses.

Prosecutors have charged the women, a mother in her 60s and her daughter in her 30s, with aggravated animal cruelty between 2020 and 2024. The daughter has admitted guilt, while the mother denies the charges. The pair reportedly kept dogs at properties in Lieksa and Enonkoski during the alleged offenses.

Inspection reports by animal welfare veterinarians, obtained by Yle, describe dogs with matted, feces-caked fur, open wounds, untreated infections, and signs of prolonged starvation. Some had visible skull bones, muscle atrophy, and organ damage. Others suffered from chronic ear and eye infections, bite wounds, and developmental disorders. Veterinarians noted that many dogs were lethargic, fearfully aggressive, or exhibited signs of severe psychological distress.

Authorities had monitored the women since 2020, conducting multiple welfare checks. Just four days before the van interception, inspectors removed 43 dogs from a dilapidated house owned by the pair; nine were euthanised on-site due to their condition. Legal experts criticise the slow response, arguing that Finnish law allows faster intervention in cases of extreme neglect.

Tarja Koskela, a criminal law professor specialising in animal welfare offenses at the University of Eastern Finland, called the case “exceptional” due to its scale. “Based on the documents, the animals could—and should—have been removed much earlier,” she told Yle. She added that the women allegedly hid dogs during inspections, temporarily relocating sick animals or placing them in foster care only to retrieve them later.

The North Karelia Wellbeing Services (Siun sote), responsible for animal welfare oversight, declined to comment. The women remain under investigation, with potential penalties including fines, imprisonment, and a permanent ban on animal ownership.