116 3rd St SE
Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52401
Iowa City Animal shelter sees outpouring of donations after 131 dogs surrendered
Aug. 28, 2023 2:02 pm, Updated: Aug. 28, 2023 2:34 pm
The Iowa City Animal Care and Adoption Center received an outpouring of donations last week after 131 dogs were surrendered to the shelter on Thursday, according to a news release from Iowa City Animal Services.
The dogs were surrendered after an inspection by the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship at a puppy farm in rural Johnson County found the 131 dogs on the property were being kept in hot, dirty conditions, and many of the dogs were in a “state of distress.”
The Johnson County Sheriff’s Office began an investigation at the farm, at 3027 540th St. SW near Riverside, but no charges have been filed. The farm is owned by Loren Yoder, who was cited multiple times by the U.S. Department of Agriculture in 2022.
The Iowa City animal shelter, at 3910 Napoleon Ln., Iowa City, sent out a news release Friday requesting donations of supplies to help with the influx of animals. As of Monday, the shelter has met demands for physical supplies. Those interested in making a monetary donation can do so through the Friends of the Animal Center Foundation online at www.facf.org, according to a Monday news release.
The shelter was closed over the weekend and will remain closed through Tuesday as animal services staff continue to respond to the dogs.
“Two of the surrendered dogs have tested positive for canine parvovirus, a highly contagious virus mainly affecting dogs. Those dogs are isolating for seven days as they receive treatment. As a precaution, animals previously in the Animal Service's care are also being quarantined” the release states.
Animal Services expects that some of the dogs — which are still being evaluated, and will be spayed or neutered — will be available for adoption in about two weeks. In the meantime, the shelter cannot accept animals surrendered by their owner. The shelter is also asking that community members who find a stray dog attempt to contact the dog’s owner themselves before taking it to the shelter.
Comments: (319) 398-8328; emily.andersen@thegazette.com
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