The owner of a Johnson County puppy farm, which surrendered 131 dogs to Iowa City Animal Services last year, has been arrested and charged with 41 counts of animal neglect, according to a news release from the Johnson County Sheriff’s Office.
Loren Yoder, 62, is facing five serious misdemeanor animal neglect charges, and 36 simple misdemeanor animal neglect charges.
Loren Yoder (Johnson County Sheriff’s Office)
The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship conducted a surprise inspection at Yoder’s farm — Sunset Valley Farm at 3027 540th Street SW, near Riverside — on Aug. 24, 2023.
The inspection found the dogs were being kept in hot, dirty conditions and many of them were in a state of distress.
According to the news release, physical exams conducted after the dogs were surrendered to the shelter found many of them had developed conditions caused by a lack of adequate care.
“These conditions then caused unjustified distress, suffering, and pain to the affected animals,” the release states.
Yoder has surrendered his commercial breeding license through the Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship. He had previously been cited multiple times by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Nine of the 131 dogs that were taken from Yoder’s farm died. The rest were adopted out from Iowa City and from other dog shelters across the Midwest.
A criminal complaint with more details about the charges against Yoder was not available Wednesday.
www.thegazette.com
Loren Yoder, 62, is facing five serious misdemeanor animal neglect charges, and 36 simple misdemeanor animal neglect charges.
The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship conducted a surprise inspection at Yoder’s farm — Sunset Valley Farm at 3027 540th Street SW, near Riverside — on Aug. 24, 2023.
The inspection found the dogs were being kept in hot, dirty conditions and many of them were in a state of distress.
According to the news release, physical exams conducted after the dogs were surrendered to the shelter found many of them had developed conditions caused by a lack of adequate care.
“These conditions then caused unjustified distress, suffering, and pain to the affected animals,” the release states.
Yoder has surrendered his commercial breeding license through the Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship. He had previously been cited multiple times by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Nine of the 131 dogs that were taken from Yoder’s farm died. The rest were adopted out from Iowa City and from other dog shelters across the Midwest.
A criminal complaint with more details about the charges against Yoder was not available Wednesday.
Johnson County puppy farm owner arrested on animal neglect charges
The owner of a Johnson County puppy farm, which surrendered 131 dogs to Iowa City Animal Services last year, has been arrested and charged with 41 counts of animal neglect, according to a news release from the Johnson County Sheriff’s Office.
www.thegazette.com
