Owner arrested after dog and puppies found starving at house in northwest Cedar Rapids

CEDAR RAPIDS — A Cedar Rapids man faces multiple animal neglect charges after authorities said they found a female pit bull terrier and six puppies starving and living in filthy conditions at a home in northwest Cedar Rapids.

Demetrius J. Huston-Stewart, 30, faces seven counts of animal neglect and one charge each of animal neglect resulting in death and possession of a controlled substance.

Cedar Rapids police and Cedar Rapids Animal Care & Control were alerted to conditions in the home July 1 and executed a search warrant the following day at a home in the 200 block of Fifth Street NW.

Police said they determined Huston-Stewart had a pit bull terrier that had given birth to seven puppies. The dogs were malnourished and living in abysmal conditions, according to court records.

One puppy, which appeared to be 3 months old, had died and its decomposed body was found in a garbage receptacle on the property, court documents state

Animal control officers seized the remaining six puppies that were covered in urine, feces and vomit, police said, adding the home had no electricity.

A veterinarian determined the puppies were “very underweight and low on protein in their blood.” The mother dog also was underweight from not being fed properly, police said.

Police said the puppies and their mother are at Animal Care & Control and responding well to being fed normally.

By law, pet owners are required to maintain sanitary conditions in all structures where animals are confined and must keep those structures free of feces, urine, vermin and other health hazards.

Cedar Rapids police said city residents are not permitted to breed cats or dogs without first obtaining a breeder’s permit for each litter The $50 permits are issued at Cedar Rapids Animal Care & Control, 7241 Washington View Pkwy. SW. Additional information is available at cedar-rapids.org/animal.

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