MUSCATINE, Iowa — Over 20 animals were seized from a Muscatine woman's property who is already facing dozens of animal neglect charges, city and county officials said.
Back on June 17, authorities executed a search warrant in the 2000 block of Highway 22 where they found nearly 70 animals living at the property. Two of the animals were found dead, according to the Muscatine County Sheriff's Office. Officials said a majority of the animals were inside a home on the property, which was deemed unsafe for human occupancy due to the interior conditions.
The sheriff's office previously said they arrested and charged 44-year-old Kelly Marie Adams with 67 counts of animal neglect, including six counts of animal neglect resulting in serious injury or death and 61 counts of animal neglect with no injury.
Officials said Adams lived at the property where the animals were found. Charges were filed on July 8 and Adams was arrested the next day on July 9.
Adams was not being detained before trial for the June animal neglect case. Per her pretrial release conditions, the Muscatine County District Court ordered that she not acquire, own, care for or reside with any animals or with anyone who owns or possesses animals.
City officials said she was also required to notify the court of any new addresses, any changes in who is residing with her and if there were any animals at her residence.
Over the past few months, the sheriff's office said it had received information that Adams was living with multiple animals at a new address. During a search warrant on Dec. 13, 23 animals were seized from her property, including three dogs, three cats, six rats, one bird, five geckos, three snakes and two bearded dragons.
As a result, officials said Adams was arrested later that day for violating pretrial release. She is currently being held at the Muscatine County Jail on a $30,900 cash bond. Further charges or arrests could be announced in the ongoing investigation.
When the 67 animals were rescued in June, It Takes a Village Animal Rescue and Resources (ITAVARR) took in the animals. They have also assisted with the most recent rescue at Adams' new property.
One Muscatine delivery driver, Jesus Gonzalez, donated $260 in tips to the rescue back when the animals were seized — and the community continued to duplicate his act of generosity.
Salvatore Vitale, the owner of the pizza restaurant Gonzalez works for, matched that $260 for a total donation of $520.
Word of the fundraiser spread, and Gonzalez said that multiple local businesses stepped in to match the total. According to a Facebook post, Skinny's Barbeque, WTC Communications, NextGen Motors of Muscatine, and Overson Refuse & Recycling all pitched in another $520 each, bringing the final total from the fundraiser to more than $2,500 for ITAVARR.
