Nearly 50 dogs have been rescued from a puppy mill operation in Boone County, less than a year after authorities took almost 100 canines from the same location .
The Animal Rescue League of Iowa returned to the 800 block of 170th Street, a few miles north of Ogden on Thursday, July 11, which is home to Paris Puppies Paradise , a breeding facility.
According to the ARL and Boone County Sheriff's Office, 46 dogs were taken from the puppy mill last week, bringing the total to more than 130 rescued dogs in the last year.
Joel Paris is the licensed breeder at the address and lives with Sara Stanfield, according to court documents. Both were charged with four counts for injury animal neglect in the fall of 2023 after authorities took 92 dogs from their property. Stanfield admitted last fall to being a caretaker of the animals at the facility.
Boone County Chief Deputy Cole Hoffman confirmed that the latest round of rescue dogs were from the same residence authorities investigated in September 2023.
The animals were initially taken from what officials described as unsanitary conditions.
Paris pleaded guilty last fall to injury animal neglect and was served a suspended prison sentence. Stanfield pleaded not guilty in November 2023. A pretrial conference is set for April 2025.
Hoffman said the department hasn't filed new charges against Stanfield or Paris.
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Welfare check leads to puppy rescue last September
A deputy from the Boone County Sheriff's Department was performing a routine welfare check on a then-missing Sara Stanfield on Sept. 21, 2023 at the rural Ogden address, according to a news release.
The deputy noticed several neglected poodles in what he believed was a functioning puppy mill. The officer called animal control and told the Animal Rescue League and the Boone Area Humane Society Animal to inspect the property in question.
Authorities took 92 dogs, 81 of which were taken to the Animal Rescue League while 11 were transported to the Boone Area Humane Society.
Multiple dogs were suffering from visible injuries and were very thin, according to court documents. The dogs were also living in unsanitary conditions and had significant matting all over their bodies from what authorities attributed to "living feces and urine."
One of the dogs had to be euthanized after suffering severe heart failure, according to the original criminal complaint.
Authorities subsequently charged and arrested Paris and Stanfield each on four counts of animal neglect in October 2023.
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ARL Iowa asks for help
The Animal Rescue League has established emergency overflow housing for the newest wave of rescued Boone County dogs.
Most of the animals require medical and dental care, and many must be groomed to remove painful mats from their fur. All dogs will need spay and neuter surgeries so they no longer can be used for breeding.
In a social media post, the ARL wrote that the team needs help with funding in order to properly care for the animals. Donations can be made through their website, arl-iowa.org .
Celia Brocker is a government, crime, political and education reporter for the Ames Tribune. She can be reached at CBrocker@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Ames Tribune: ARL saves nearly 50 more dogs from Boone County puppy mill - months after initial rescue
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