Riverside breeder facing 41 counts of animal neglect after 131 dogs seized from facility
A man is facing more than 40 counts of animal neglect after authorities seized 131 dogs from his property last August in Riverside.
The Johnson County Sheriff’s Office was alerted by the state Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship of animal abuse after a large number of dogs were found to "be neglected" when authorities conducted a routine check of the Sunset Valley Farm breeder facility in Riverside.
The state evaluator immediately reported the conditions because they felt a large portion of the dogs were in conditions that “caused an imminent threat to their health and well-being,” according to court records.
Sunset Valley Farm owner, Loren Yoder, 63, was charged and arrested Wednesday, March 6 on 36 counts of animal neglect with no serious injury, a simple misdemeanor, and five counts of animal neglect with serious injury, a serious misdemeanor
Yoder also surrendered his Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship commercial breeding license.
Inspection report detailed poor living conditions
Veterinarians who examined the animals at Sunset Valley Farms determined some dogs had “conditions caused by failing to provide for the animal’s welfare” or an ailment that was causing it “prolonged pain and suffering,” according to the criminal complaints.
One of the dogs examined by the vet had a three-inch deep cut on the head of one of the dogs, according to police. Another allegedly had cuts around and over its paws, legs, and rear. A third dog had a one-inch deep wound on its knee and a 2.5-inch deep wound on its neck that had become infected.
Many simple misdemeanors exclusively carry a fine in the $105 and $855 range, while serious misdemeanors impose a fine of between $430 and $2,560. The court may also order a 30-day stay in jail for each of the simple misdemeanor charges and one year for each serious misdemeanor charge.
The maximum penalty in this case would be a fine of over $40,000 and roughly eight years in prison.
A concerning routine Department of Agriculture inspection at Sunset Valley Farm inspired the entity to call on law enforcement, Ag department spokesperson Don McDowell told the Press-Citizen.
The sheriff's office and local animal groups visited the facility to transport, rehouse and care for the animals.
The state inspector reported that the Sunset Valley Farm facility was in disrepair, creating dangerous and unsanitary living conditions for the dogs, according to the report filed on Aug. 24.
The indoor housing facility at 3027 500th St. SW had only one exhaust fan, which was “insufficient to remove sweltering heat” from the building. Many flies, both dead and alive, were scattered throughout the campus as well.
From August: State investigation at Riverside's Sunset Valley Farm uncovers poor conditions, removal of 131 dogs
Extreme temperatures put animals at risk
The inspection was done during a heat wave that swept over the area and pushed temperatures into the triple digits for the first time in nearly. The inspector noted that temperatures hovered above 90 degrees throughout the building.
According to the Department of Agriculture, temperatures at a breeding facility for either dogs or cats cannot fall below 50 degrees or rise above 85 degrees. The inspector also said the "whelping facility's" heating and cooling system was unregulated.
The ceilings, walls and floors were “not maintained” under state regulations while “excessive weeds” and holes in the ground were observed in the outdoor “dog runs,” used as an exercise and play area.
Inspectors also noted that Sunset Valley Farm was significantly understaffed for a facility housing 131 dogs.
A total of 16 female mother dogs were in distress from the heat and the “vast majority” of other dogs were dirty and matted.
Iowa City Animal Care led rehab process
Iowa City Animal Services took in many of the displaced animals from Sunset Valley Famr and received an outpouring of support from the community.
At its peak, the massive influx of dogs meant the shelter was caring for five to six times its normal population, but with community support, including donations of dog food, beds, and cleaning supplies, the Iowa City center helped revive the pets.
The animal care and adoption center shared photos of Mr. Rogers, Patsy, Frank, Bogart and Dora completely transformed less than a month after the August inspection.
Some photos show the dogs roaming around the care center, ears flopping as they prance over the green grass. Other dogs are shown sleeping on the couch or playing with their toys.
Community members also stepped up to adopt many of the 131 dogs, as applications poured in once the shelter felt the dogs were ready for new families, the shelter said on its Facebook page.
Ryan Hansen covers local government and crime for the Press-Citizen. He can be reached at [email protected] or on X, formerly known as Twitter, @ryanhansen01.
This article originally appeared on Iowa City Press-Citizen: Owner of Sunset Valley Farm arrested neglect of 131 dogs
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