Marshall County, Iowa — Nearly 400 animals were rescued from a single property after authorities and animal welfare workers discovered them living without adequate food or water and in what rescuers described as “dreadful conditions.”
The Animal Rescue League of Iowa’s Animal Welfare & Response Team was initially called to assist law enforcement with the removal of barn animals from the Marshall County property. But once rescuers arrived, they quickly realized the situation was far larger than expected.
A total of 379 animals were ultimately removed from the property, including chickens, goats, sheep, ponies, potbellied pigs, geese, ducks, rabbits and kittens.
Rescuers Discover Hundreds More Animals
The Animal Rescue League of Iowa said its team received a request to help law enforcement remove animals from the property. What rescuers found when they arrived was far beyond what they had anticipated.
“Our stomachs dropped when we arrived to discover not just those animals, but hundreds more,” the ARL wrote in a Friday, Sept. 25, Facebook post.
Many of the animals were described as thin to emaciated, with rescuers saying they had been deprived of adequate food and water. The animals were reportedly eating whatever they could find, including tree bark and leaves stripped from nearby trees, as they struggled to survive on the property.
The conditions were particularly severe for a group of pigs.
“The pigs were living in a cubicle-sized shed in pitch blackness in at least four inches of feces and mud,” the ARL explained. “We didn’t know when they had last seen daylight.”
Deputies Responded After Pony Struggled to Stand
The situation came to the attention of authorities after deputies were called to the property at around 7 a.m. on Sept. 24 following a report about a young pony that was struggling to stand.
According to the Marshall County Sheriff’s Office, deputies arrived and found the pony severely malnourished.
Authorities also determined that the property’s six acres were “severely overgrazed,” according to the sheriff’s office.
The conditions prompted investigators to obtain a search warrant, allowing authorities and animal welfare personnel to begin the large-scale removal operation.
One of the injured ponies was ultimately humanely euthanized, according to the sheriff’s office.
Two People Arrested in Connection With the Case
The investigation resulted in the arrests of Pedro Garcia-Alvarez, 46, and Millie Moreno-Garcia, 55, on Monday, Sept. 28.
The two were charged with Livestock Neglect-Causing Serious Injury or Death and Livestock Neglect-Failure to Provide Adequate Livestock Care, according to the Marshall County Sheriff’s Office.
The charges follow the discovery of the severely malnourished animals and the conditions investigators documented on the property.
The case remains a significant animal welfare investigation as the rescued animals begin the long process of recovery.
379 Animals Begin Recovery After Rescue
Following the daylong rescue operation, the animals were transported to the Animal Rescue League of Iowa’s Second Chance Ranch and Rescue Intake & Rehabilitation Center.
There, staff and volunteers are providing the animals with care as they recover from their condition.
The rescue organization said the sheer number of animals involved has created a major need for additional support.
The ARL is now asking the public for donations, supplies and volunteers to help provide care for the animals during their recovery.
For the rescued animals, the removal from the Iowa property marks the beginning of a very different chapter. After reportedly living without sufficient food, water and proper shelter, they are now receiving medical attention and basic care while animal welfare workers assess their individual needs.
The rescue also highlights how quickly an animal welfare situation can expand once authorities gain access to a property.
What are your thoughts on the rescue of 379 animals from the Iowa property? Share your reaction in the comments and let us know what you think should happen next for the rescued animals.
