'Fell through the cracks'; State admits more inspections needed at facility where 160 plus dogs were rescued

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KOAA) — We are learning more about the conditions inside a dog breeding facility in Delta, Colorado where more than 160 dogs were rescued in June.

Earlier this month, we showed you video National Mill Dog Rescue shared on social media of dogs they took in on June 21, 2025 from that facility with so much matting on their fur NMDR said many could not eat, drink, or defecate. Read previous story here.

"We saw several dogs with missing limbs, or parts of limbs, likely due to the mat strangling and cutting off circulation and then limbs falling off," said NMDR Director of Operations Sarah Thompson.

Since then, I asked the Colorado Department of Agriculture for all inspection documents associated with the facility and found four cases where dogs at the facility had matted fur. The latest one is perhaps the most egregious and the state is now admitting to me they should have done more to prevent it.

"It was alarming," said NMDR Director of Operations Sarah Thompson.

Thompson said most dogs were so severely matted they had to have emergency grooming.

"Inside the hair were maggots and rodent feces," Thompson said.

Dianne Derby: How were they surviving?
Sarah Thompson: You got me. You know, it's a miracle that they did. I suspect many more were lost before we got there due to the conditions.

Just three days before that rescue, state animal welfare inspectors showed up unannounced for a complaint investigation of a dog, cat and bird breeding facility owned by Barbara Bowman. The inspection report says the inspector found one "deceased adult dog and two deceased puppies" in outdoor enclosures with other living dogs. The report says, "The adult deceased dog was decomposing and had a large number of maggots visible."

You can read the inspection form below. Mobile users click here.

When asked about the dog, the inspector noted in the report Bowman was "unaware of the deceased dog in the enclosure and neither of her employees had said anything to her." The inspector also noted there was no water in the enclosure with the dead dog and the outside temperature at the time of inspection was "92 degrees Fahrenheit".

Among the dead dogs were also matted dogs. According to the inspection report, "...most of the 137 Miniature Schnauzer-type dogs were severely matted to the point that they did not have the freedom of movement, could not perform normal bodily functions, and the health and welfare of the animals were severely compromised." The report said Bowman, "...stated it had been over a year since the dogs had been groomed and she knew it 'was bad'." The state called it a "...repeat direct violation", even citing an inspection in March of 2022 where 54 dogs "...had matted hair and were in need of grooming."

Documents show an inspector did follow up in person 42 days later to make sure those dogs had been groomed, but the state did not go back to the property again until this summer, more than three years later.

"I'll be the first one to admit this one kind of fell through the cracks," said Nick Fisher.

Fisher is the Colorado Department of Agriculture's Pet Animal Care and Facilities Act (PACFA) Program Section Chief. Fisher told me the state tries to inspect each of its breeding facilities once a year and hits that goal nearly 90 percent of the time.

"From 2022 to now, we should have been out there again," Fisher said.

But 2022 was not the first time Bowman's dogs were found with matted hair. In 2015, an inspector found ten dogs in outdoor enclosures with "...matted hair that will require removal before the mats interfere with movement or cleanliness."

The only proof that the matted hair was removed was a handwritten letter from Bowman saying she had done it.

Then in 2020 an inspector found two dogs with matted hair "...that could prevent movement and sight." Again, the only proof this was corrected was another handwritten letter from Bowman saying she had done it. Mobile users click here.

The state admits in both cases no follow up inspection was done.

Dianne Derby: It's hard to imagine why you wouldn't go back in person when it appears on the documentation that the matting was impeding their movement, their sight, their cleanliness.
Nick Fisher: Well, yeah, I mean to that, I guess you're talking about inspections 10 years ago. And I think what we try to do is it's a voluntary compliance program. We have 2400 facilities. We have to rely on our facilities for compliance.
Dianne Derby: The only disciplinary action I could find for her was a $500 fine in 2022 for selling cats and birds and not being licensed to do so. So, why would you give her a fine for that, but not severe matting?
Nick Fisher: I don't have an answer to that question.

So many questions still remain. The 7th Judicial District Attorney's office will not comment on the current animal cruelty charges since the case is under investigation, and unless she's convicted of those charges the state can not revoke her license, but they can suspend it.

Dianne Derby: Why not proceed already with the suspension?
Nick Fisher: We could, and we probably will. I think we're just finalizing kind of our investigative part of it, kind of dovetailing with the sheriff department's investigation.

As of July 31st, the state says Bowman can still breed dogs.

I called a phone number associated with Bowman back on July 16th, but once I started to ask the woman who picked up if she was involved in an animal cruelty investigation, she hung up. Her attorney, Andrew Nolan, sent me a statement last weekend that said in part, "In light of the pending litigation, neither Ms. Bowman nor I will provide comment."

Bowman is due in court in September on the 258 misdemeanor animal cruelty charges she is facing. We will be sure to follow the case and let you know what happens.

Earlier this week, we reported some of the dogs are now available for adoption. Click here for more information.

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