Minnesota Woman Convicted of Animal Cruelty

HASTINGS, Minn. (AP) - A Dakota County dog kennel owner accused of drowning puppies has been convicted of felony animal cruelty.

A jury on Friday convicted 62-year-old Dayna Bell of Northfield on 13 counts. She was acquitted on one count.

A criminal complaint says employees at Bell Kennels and Farm saw her drown puppies in buckets of water or by throwing them in a swimming pool with a cinder block tied to their necks.

The complaint says Dakota County sheriff's deputies searched Bell Kennels in September of 2011 and found 10 small dogs in a freezer.

Bell's attorney, Stephen Grigsby, says the conviction likely will be appealed.

Bell remains free on bail until her sentencing scheduled for Jan. 14.