Amana, Ia. - Johnson County sheriff's deputies have seized 23 dogs from a residence in Amana they say were malnourished, diseased and living in filthy conditions...
Pulkrabek said the dogs were not being taken care of. He said the basement at the rural Johnson County residence was littered with feces, and the animals locked there had no clean place to sit. Goodman said the garage was worse because there was about half a foot of fecal matter on the ground.
Many of the dogs had a variety of diseases and health conditions that required medical attention by a veterinarian. Officials from the Iowa City Animal Care and Adoption Center assisted the deputies in serving the warrant. The dogs are now in the care of the animal shelter.
Goodman said five of the dogs have been euthanized because of health and temperament concerns. She said the dogs' health problems include low weight, parasites and numerous bite wounds from fighting with one another for food. The dogs also have "massive irritation" to their eyes from the ammonia in the urine, she said.
The dogs' owners, Joseph Coker, 56, and Connie Tresslar, 59, have been charged with two counts of animal neglect, a simple misdemeanor. The sheriff's office has made arrangements for Coker and Tresslar to turn themselves in at the jail for their booking and initial appearance on June 20... More
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