At a glance

  • Kentucky State Police charged Michael York and Natasha York after a large rescue operation in Metcalfe County.
  • Current reports say more than 200 dogs were removed. Published counts have varied as the operation developed, including 224 and an estimated 244.
  • Police reported dehydration, internal parasites, malnutrition and other health problems among the dogs. One dog had a broken leg.
  • The filed charges include second degree cruelty to animals and violations of Kentucky's rabies vaccination requirement.
  • The charges are allegations. The current reports do not describe a conviction or final court judgment.

Kentucky State Police charged Michael York and Natasha York following an investigation connected with the removal of more than 200 dogs from a rural property near Edmonton. WDRB and WLKY reported the charges on August 26, several weeks after rescue groups began moving the dogs into care.

The public counts are not perfectly uniform. WDRB reports that volunteers found 224 dogs. Earlier rescue reporting used an estimate of 244, while the latest police based reports describe more than 200. Those figures appear to reflect different stages and estimates, so Buddylio is not presenting one exact total as settled.

The rescue began in late July

Guardians of Rescue and regional organizations began removing dogs from the property in late July. Earlier reports described an operation lasting several days and involving animals ranging from puppies to senior dogs.

The dogs were distributed among rescue groups in several states, according to WDRB. That wider placement matters because an intake of this size can exceed the housing, veterinary and foster capacity of a single local organization.

Fictional beagle mix drinking water during shelter intake while another dog rests nearby
A fictional intake scene illustrating basic care after a large rescue. It is not evidence from the Kentucky property.

Police reported several health concerns

Kentucky State Police said many dogs showed dehydration, internal parasites, malnutrition or other health problems. One dog had a broken leg. Reports also say many of the dogs did not have the rabies vaccinations required by state law.

Those descriptions apply to conditions observed across the group. The available public reports do not provide an individual diagnosis, treatment plan or recovery status for every dog.

What the two people are charged with

The current reports identify Michael York and Natasha York as facing second degree animal cruelty charges and rabies vaccination violations. News accounts differ on some biographical details, including Natasha York's age, so this article omits any disputed age.

A criminal charge is not a finding of guilt. The investigation and court process remain open, and the reports reviewed by Buddylio do not describe a plea or final judgment for either person.

Three fictional rescued dogs resting with water in a simple foster yard
A fictional foster care scene. It does not show dogs removed in Metcalfe County.

What remains unknown

The public reporting does not provide a final placement list for every dog or a complete account of long term veterinary outcomes. It also does not resolve the differing totals reported during the rescue operation.

Buddylio will update this report if Kentucky State Police, the court or the rescue organizations publish material new information about the case or the dogs' recovery.

Sources

How we reported this: Buddylio reviewed the named sources, checked the organizations and figures shown above, and added context for animal lovers. Any illustration is labeled and does not depict the actual animals or scene. This report was checked on August 27, 2026. Charges had been filed, but no conviction or final judgment was reported. Articles are editorial content, not veterinary advice.