Backyard breeder - dogs neglected, one found dead Keokuk, IA (US) Incident Date: Thursday, Jul 5, 2007 County: Keokuk Local Map: available Disposition: Alleged Charges: Misdemeanor Alleged: Sarah Aker

Case ID: 11688 Classification: Neglect / Abandonment Animal: dog (non pit-bull) View more cases in IA (US) Login to Watch this Case

Dogs in filthy pens and the carcass of a dog were encountered by Keokuk police officers Monday morning when they followed up on a complaint phoned in Saturday evening.

The caller reported 14 to 15 starving animals kept in cages and carcasses of animals at 1111 Cherry St., Keokuk.

�Officers went through the property and found four different dog pens that had not been cleaned,� said Keokuk Police Chief Tom Crew. �There were piles of uncleared fecal matter. It was very dirty.�

Several children's wading pools containing water were available to the animals, but the water was covered in algae.

�There were signs the animals had been fed,� Crew said. �They did appear to be in good condition.�

Officers found 11 dogs and one cat on the property, and the decomposed body of a dog on a concrete porch.

Sarah Aker, 25, Keokuk, was cited for seven counts of animal cruelty, failure to maintain dog areas in a clean and sanitary condition, operating a kennel without a license, no city license and no rabies vaccination.

�We believe she had these animals to breed,� Crew said.

The dogs were husky mix, lab mix, whippets and miniature dobermans.

Keokuk has ordinances limiting the number of animals kept at a residence within the city limits.

Aker was released on citations to appear in court at a later date.

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References

	KCRG - July 5, 2007
	Keokuk's Gateway - July 5, 2007

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