COLUMBIA — Boone County dog breeder Melissa Sanders was denied bond in a Boone County courtroom Thursday.

Sanders is facing three felony animal abuse charges and 15 misdemeanor animal abuse charges in what Columbia/Boone County Animal Control has called one of the most severe animal abuse cases the county has seen in recent years.

A probable cause statement alleges that dozens of dead or malnourished dogs were found at her breeding and boarding facility, Magnum Opus German Shepherds.

Sanders was arrested last week. She has pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Sanders appeared virtually from the Phelps County Jail on Thursday. The Phelps County Jail roster shows Sanders was booked into the custody of the jail on Wednesday.

The courtroom heard three tearful testimonies Thursday from p

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