2 Iowans charged with dozens of counts of animal torture and neglect
Two people from Iowa City are accused of operating as unlicensed breeders and selling dogs out of a mobile home and shed, KCRG reports.
Rhoda Gorvin, 34, and Antonio Polland, 32, are both charged with 30 counts each, consisting of animal torture and animal neglect, with some resulting in death.
According to over 120 pages of criminal complaints from the Johnson County Sheriff’s Office, authorities obtained a search warrant for a property on the 4400 block of Taft Avenue in Southeast Iowa City for animal welfare concerns.
On July 2, authorities seized 32 live and dead dogs from the property.
The criminal complaint says there were dogs in kennels throughout the home and shed, both reeking of urine and feces from the unsanitary conditions the dogs were kept in.
The complaint says the dogs had no access to food or water.
When the dogs were seized and examined by veterinarians, many were severely underweight, had fleas and other health conditions. Some also had sores or broken teeth, according to the criminal complaint.
Some of the dogs had to be euthanized due to the severity of their malnourishment and prolonged lack of care.
The Sheriff’s Office says Gorvin and Polland admitted to selling the dogs, despite not having a license to do so.
Jail records show they were both were taken into custody on Wednesday afternoon.