Former officer testifies about conditions in Woods case

CEDAR RAPIDS – A former Cedar Rapids Police officer testified Tuesday about 186 photos taken in the home of a woman accused of animal abuse.

Rodney Shifflett, former officer who took photos for animal control, testified about photos which depicted feces on the floors throughout the home and several cages or kennels that contained dogs. He said there was also urine on the floors and the odor made his eyes water.

“It wasn't a normal smell in a house,” Shifflett said.

Wood, 36, charged with 35 counts of animal abuse and two counts of unhealthy and unsanitary conditions after officials seized 32 dogs, two cats and a parrot from her home at 308 30

^th

St. Dr. SE on Feb. 17.

The trial in Linn County Associate District Court started Monday and continues this afternoon. The City will finish up its case this afternoon and the defense should begin.

In the photos, bags of dog food were visible but Shifflett said some of them contained feces and other garbage. He didn't know if any had dog food in them. There wasn't any dog food or water in the bowls that were throughout the house.

Shifflett said most of the cages seemed adequate for the animals but a few seemed cramped. Some of the animals had matted fur. He saw one dog, a dachshund, which appeared to be in pain. The dog's “innards were protruding from her anus” and had long toenails, he said.

A photo inside a detached garage showed a dead dog found in a gabage bag and there was also a dead cat.