SHELLY, Minn. (AP) — A northwestern Minnesota woman is facing criminal charges after more than 50 purebred beagles were found living in filthy conditions at her home.

Norman County Sheriff Jeremy Thornton says the dogs were removed Tuesday from a house in Shelly, a town near the Minnesota-North Dakota border. He says investigators are still trying to determine why the woman had so many animals.

Minnesota Humane Society investigator Wade Hanson tells the Star Tribune  that the dogs were very dirty and were either covered in mud or feces. He says one dead dog was found in the home, but it's still unclear how it died.

Reene Stephens of the Humane Society of Polk County says the surviving dogs had cuts and other injuries.

Shelly is about 25 miles southwest of Crookston.

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