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Dog breeder files $5 million suit for raid

The Humane Society of the United States is among the defendants in a $5 million lawsuit filed by a South Dakota dog breeder. An HSUS employee assisted Second Chance Rescue Center in raiding Dan Christensen’s property last September, seizing more than 170 dogs they charged were being mistreated. In January, a judge ruled the search warrant used in the raid was wrongfully obtained by an animal control officer who intentionally misled the court. All of the charges against Christensen were dropped and in May the judge ordered the dogs be returned. Humane watch.org says 28 of the dogs died while in the care of Second Chance Rescue.

Named as defendants in the suit are Second Chance Rescue Center, Second Chance executive director Rosey Quinn, several national animal groups and Turner County’s sheriff, commission members and state’s attorney. Christensen seeks $5 million in compensation for deprivation of constitutional rights, malicious prosecution, emotional distress, criminal trespass and intentional damage to private property.