A Boone County dog breeder is under investigation after what officials call one of the county’s worst animal abuse cases in years.

The American Kennel Club has placed breeder Melissa Sanders on temporary referral suspending her from registering dogs or participating in AKC events.

Sanders faces three felony and fifteen misdemeanor animal abuse charges after deputies reported finding more than a dozen dead dogs and several malnourished ones at her facility, Magnum Opus German Shepherds, to which Sanders pleaded not guilty.

Sanders remains in custody ahead of a bond hearing scheduled for 1pm this afternoon.