Two Charged After Pets Found In Storage Unit

On Dec. 11, an employee of a local veterinarian clinic called police after hearing animal noising coming from inside a locked storage unit at a self-storage facility in New Haven, Mo., that was being used by Niccole Mullins and her daughter Emily Mannise. 

When authorities opened the unit door, they saw two dogs, including a husky and a Pitbull terrier, and five cats. The unit was scattered with “hardened feces” and urine spots. It also contained bags of dog and cat food that were partially full, but no water bowls were found.

According to Mullins, who has surrendered her dog to the Humane Society of Missouri, the animals were placed in the unit on Dec. 3 despite the winter temperatures below 30 degrees. Mannise claims to have been caring for the animals twice a day. 

Mullins and Mannise were each charged with seven counts of animal abuse and seven counts of animal neglect or abandonment. A hearing will be held on Dec. 18, 2025.