Ten dogs starving, living in filth in motel room
Urbandale, IA (US)

Incident Date: Tuesday, Apr 12, 2011
County: Polk

Disposition: Alleged

Alleged: Monique Petrossi

An Ottumwa woman has been charged with animal neglect after police officers found 10 dogs living in their own waste in a suburban Des Moines motel room.

WHO-TV reports that Urbandale police found two adult dogs and eight puppies in the room at Motel Relax Tuesday.

Police say officers found trash and debris all over the room. They say urine and feces covered the floor and that the dogs appeared to be starving.

Monique Petrossi is charged with animal neglect. The 26-year-old woman, who owns the dogs and is living at the motel, says she's been down on her luck and struggling to get by. Petrossi says she wants her dogs back.

The Des Moines Register reports that the dogs were turned over to West Des Moines Animal Control.

References

• KGAN - April 14, 2011

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