Hunter
04/10/25
A Riverside dog breeding facility where 49 living and 17 dead dogs were removed in March has been ruled responsible for expenses Washington County incurred for their treatment.
The Press-Citizen reports Washington County filed a lawsuit in mid-March against Terry Yoder, the owner of BR’s Dobermans outside of Riverside, noting that the 66 dogs they recovered were living in conditions described as “inhumane and unsafe.”
Iowa law allows for authorities to be reimbursed for recovery and care of abused animals.
Court documents indicate a partial settlement between the county and Yoder has been reached. Both sides have agreed that all but two of the dogs recovered from the property fit the definition of “threatened animals.” A judge must rule on acceptance of the terms of the partial settlement.
Washington County claims expenses for care and rehousing of the animals totaled over $35,500.
The facility was reported when a prospective dog owner visited and noticed about 50 dogs without access to food, and their water was frozen. The person also alleged there was a large amount of feces and urine in the kennels, and some dogs were observed with mites and open sores.
BR’s Dobermans are one of 15 Iowa Breeders on the Humane Society’s national “Horrible Hundred” breeders list.
Yoder lost the right to a breeder’s license last June after a visit to his Sunset Valley Farms by the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship in the summer of 2023 resulted in 131 dogs being surrendered to Iowa City Animal Services. Many of the dogs were determined by veterinarians to have developed conditions caused by failure to adequately care for them.
Yoder was charged with 41 counts of animal neglect; the plea deal included Yoder pleading guilty to five counts of Animal Neglect with Injury and one year of probation.
No charges have yet been filed against Yoder for March’s incident.