DES MOINES, Iowa — A minor has been charged with two counts of animal torture after two traumatic animal calls were made to the same apartment complex just hours apart, according to the Animal Rescue League of Iowa.
ARL Animal Services Officers responded to the first call around 3:30 a.m. last Thursday (July 16) to find an adult dog that had been disemboweled, but was still alive. The ARL says the dog was immediately euthanized because of the dog's suffering and horrific nature of the injuries.
Later that morning, around 10 a.m., ARL officers were dispatched to that apartment complex again, this time in response to the traumatic death of an eight-week-old kitten.
The suspect in both cases is a minor, and has now been given two animal torture charges, which is an aggravated misdemeanor. There are also other charges on the suspect in adult courts.
The ARL says they are thankful the improved animal welfare law enacted July 1 made it easier to to charge the suspect with animal torture, but still believes the punishment isn't severe enough.
"This change is a huge victory for animal victims and will finally hold their abusers accountable," Animal Rescue League of Iowa CEO Tom Colvin said in a statement. "However, we are disappointed that the lawmakers removed the proposed increased penalty for animal torture as a first offense felony, keeping it as an aggravated misdemeanor."