The workers at the Kinship Companions in the Town of Wilson have plead not guilty after as many as 41 dogs were found dead inside freezers. The former kennel’s owner, Christy Tuchel, and one-time manager, Anthony Keyport, face two felonies and 36 misdemeanors, while Tuchel’s daughter, Breanna Mikula, faces one felony and 36 misdemeanors. Kinship Companions had been inspected several times since 2015, and the dogs that were in poor condition had been hidden during those inspections. One of Tuchel’s sons continued to express concerns over how employees of the kennel were treating the animals, including telling investigators about dogs in the freezer. A final inspection uncovered as many as 41 dead dogs stashed in a freezer, resulting in the arrest of Tuchel, Keyport, and Mikula. The investigators were able to rescue around 37 dogs that were still alive.
