WORTH COUNTY Iowa- Nearly 170 dogs have been removed from a northern Iowa commercial dog breeder. The Worth County Sheriff's Office conducted a search this morning at the property, where officials say hundreds of dogs, all Samoyeds, were living in filthy conditions.
Worth County Sheriff Dan Fank says it's a large-scale breeding operation, involving many animals and they had tried to work with the owner for months, but they were not cooperative. The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals is assisting the Sheriff's Office in the case.
The ASPCA issued a news release today stating the dogs were living in "...appalling and overcrowded conditions and exhibiting signs of neglect with no access to clean water. Many of the dogs were found in filthy dilapidated kennels in below freezing temperatures with minimal protection from the elements. There is debris scattered throughout the property as responders work to safely remove fearful and undersocialized dogs. A few cats were also found inside the residence exhibiting signs of neglect."