NORTHWOOD, Iowa (AP) — The owner of a northern Iowa dog breeding operation has pleaded not guilty to 17 counts of animal neglect.
Worth County court records say the written pleas were submitted Tuesday for 66-year-old Barbara Kavars, of Manly. A nonjury trial start is scheduled for July 23.
Court records say Kavars was holding Samoyed dogs in inhumane conditions when officials raided her operation on Nov. 12 and visited at other times. The records say the 17 dogs had fur matted by feces, skin conditions leading to fur loss, painful wounds, intestinal parasites and other maladies.
The records also say the dogs' kennels lacked food and had water containers that were filled with ice.
Kavars denied any wrongdoing and told officials she didn't think the dogs needed additional care.
