DES MOINES – (February 5, 2018) Animal Rescue League of Iowa (ARL) Animal Control Officers assisted the Des Moines Police Department (DMPD) over the weekend with a suspected animal neglect case. Willard William Street, 32, of Des Moines, was captured on video, allegedly repeatedly punching his dog with a closed fist.
Des Moines Police arrested Street and charged him with one count of animal neglect (under 717B) and two counts of failure to license a pet. ARL Animal Control Officers removed the alleged victim dog as well as two other dogs from the property. The dogs are currently being cared for by ARL staff and Veterinarians.
The ARL has been working with state lawmakers on legislation to strengthen punishments for animal abusers, specifically for companion animals living as pets. The Senate version of the bill (SF421) passed out of the judiciary committee last week, and its next stop is the Senate floor for debate. Its companion bill (HSB608) is scheduled to be debated in a House subcommittee meeting on Tuesday at 8:30 a.m. in the House Lounge at the Iowa State Capitol. The ARL urges anyone who is concerned about the weak animal protection laws in our state to attend this subcommittee meeting to make your presence known.
“Iowa ranks 49th in the country for animal welfare laws, which is why we keep seeing these horrible cases of animal abuse where abusers receive sentences that don’t fit the crime,” said Tom Colvin, Executive Director for the Animal Rescue League of Iowa. “Enough is enough. Iowans want better, and Iowa’s companion animals deserve better.”
In addition to attending the subcommittee meeting on Tuesday, those interested in helping improve Iowa’s animal welfare laws can visit www.ARL-Iowa.org/HAN to learn more about the current bills and sign up to receive Action Alerts.
