DALLAS COUNTY, Iowa — A Johnston woman has been charged with Livestock Neglect after nearly 50 horses were rescued from her property on Wednesday.
According to the Dallas County Sheriff's Office, the 46 horses on 78-year-old Linda Kay Kilbourne's property at 33034 165th Street were in need of veterinary care.
They were given to the Animal Rescue League of Iowa while the neglect investigation continues.
In June 2020, Kilbourne was charged with improperly disposing of dead animals after she left horses rotting out in a field — at the same address as the Nov. 1, 2023 rescue.
Under Iowa law, there are five ways to dispose of an animal carcass:
- Rendering
- Burning
- Compost
- Burying
- Dispose of the remains (Bring it to a landfill that accepts animal remains)
"You cannot bury horses in Feb[ruary] on frozen ground," Kilbourne said via text in June 2020. "The Iowa Code says you can burn them, which we tried to do. The cop came along and said we couldn't, so we stopped. The tractor quit working, so that also held up progress. We finally composted them. No one loves every one of my babies more than me, and I am crushed to lose one."
Iowa law also states that a person has 24 hours to dispose of a dead animal on their property.
"Our primary focus right now is the ongoing evaluation of the horses’ conditions and ensuring they receive the necessary care," an ARL spokesperson said to Local 5 via email.
If you are interested in donating to help the horses, click here to donate to the ARL online.