A dispositional proceeding was held in Muscatine County Court on Tuesday in regards to 28 dogs and one cat that were rescued January 9, 2022, from a camper on a rural Muscatine County property.
According to a press release, the court ordered the Petition for Disposition be granted and the animals involved in this case were deemed to be “threatened”.
The court ordered that 27 of the dogs and the cat be released by the Muscatine County Sheriff’s Office to “It Takes A Village Animal Rescue and Resources” of Muscatine.
One dog will be allowed to return to its owner based on stipulations agreed to by the owner which include the dog being spayed and payment of associated costs, proof of a stable and secure home for the dog with an initial welfare check conducted by “It Takes A Village Animal Rescue and Resources” prior to the release of the dog to the owner, and a bi-monthly welfare check on the dog for one year.
The owner will also be required to notify the Muscatine County Sheriff’s Office of any change in residency and, if that residency is outside of Muscatine County, the owner will be subject to welfare checks by a similar organization or group to assure compliance.
The owner, Stephanie Dawn Harrison, 46, Muscatine, was charged on Wednesday with one count of Animal Neglect Causing Serious Injury (aggravated misdemeanor), one count of Animal Neglect Causing Injury (serious misdemeanor), and one count of Animal Neglect (simple misdemeanor).
A criminal complaint is merely an accusation and a defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty in a court of law.
