500 Puppies Rescued From An Iowa Breeder

After a federal judge forbade an Iowa man from breeding and selling dogs, a rescue group reported this week that more than 500 puppies with matted fur, sunken eyes, and protruding ribs were rescued one by one from overcrowded stalls filled with dirt, horse manure, and feces.

According to a Department of Justice complaint, the US Department of Agriculture accused Daniel Gingerich of Seymour, Iowa, of breaking the Animal Welfare Act at least 100 times in six months and hiding sick dogs from inspectors.

According to a September DOJ statement, Gingerich refused to provide 514 canines with “appropriate veterinarian care, nutritional food in sufficient quantity, drinkable water, and accommodation that is both clean and secure.”

According to court filings, a federal judge permanently forbade Gingerich from breeding and selling dogs and directed him to turn the pups over to the Animal Rescue League of Iowa for custody. Since October of this year, Gingerich has been a USDA-approved dog breeder.

Sheriff Keith Davis said that the Wayne County sheriff’s office is reviewing all the charges and civil violations in the coming weeks to develop an indictable case.  However, he stated that no criminal charges had been filed yet.

The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, which has assisted with rescue attempts, described the conditions as “horrific,” claiming that many canines were left untreated for severe illnesses and injuries and that many had fur matting and were kept in overcrowded cages.

The ASPCA, the Animal Rescue League of Iowa, and other organizations began transporting the canines to shelters last month. More than 200 dogs have been rescued as of last Tuesday. The canines on Gingerich’s property are being cared for on a daily basis, according to the ASPCA.

The “huge operation” began this week when rescue crews evacuated dogs from the overcrowded kennels… bringing them each to clean boxes so they could start the next chapter of their lives,” according to the Animal Rescue League of Iowa on Facebook.

Many of the canines at the makeshift shelter are expecting puppies, while others have already been born.

On its website, the ARL is accepting donations to aid in rescuing and rehabilitation efforts.

Source: USA Today