On Monday, June 17, 2024, a search warrant was executed by the Muscatine County Sheriff’s Office just west of the Muscatine City limits. The warrant was obtained in connection to an animal neglect investigation. Sheriff’s Office personnel were assisted by Muscatine based “It Takes a Village Animal Rescue & Resources (ITAVARR)”, Muscatine Police Department Animal Control, and Muscatine County Zoning.
In total, 67 animals were removed from the property with a majority of those being removed from inside the residence. Two of those animals were located deceased on the property. Those animals will be thoroughly checked and cared for by ITAVARR staff while a necropsy will be conducted on the two deceased animals. Due to the conditions of the interior of the residence, the house was posted as being unsafe for human occupancy.
This is an ongoing investigation and additional details may be released at a later date. The Muscatine County Sheriff’s Office would like to thank the personnel from ITAVARR for their outstanding work and dedication to animal rescue, providing local law enforcement with the resources to conduct these types of cases, and being a great community partner.