MUSCATINE, Iowa — Editor's note: The video attached originally aired on June 19.
A woman has been arrested after 67 animals were removed from a rural Muscatine property during an animal neglect investigation, officials say.
Back on June 17, authorities executed a search warrant in the 2000 block of Highway 22 where they found dozens of animals living at the property. Two of the animals were found dead, according to the Muscatine County Sheriff's Office. Officials say 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 says they have 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 say 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.
Muscatine officials say a hearing was held on Wednesday, July 3, where the county asked the court to order the animals be considered "abused," "neglected," "mistreated" and/or "threatened." That ruling is still pending.
It Takes a Village Animal Rescue and Resources (ITAVARR) took in the animals and staff have been caring for them with the assistance of local veterinarians, who have been completing screenings, examinations and necropsies.
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.
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