News : Cedar Valley Humane Society secures legal custody of all Galkowski animals

The Cedar Valley Humane Society is pleased to announce that it has reached a voluntary legalsettlement and release agreement with Benton County, the City of Vinton, and Barbara & MarshallGalkowski in the matter of the Petition for Disposition of Threatened Animals filed by Benton County onJanuary 22, 2018. In an order issued February 8, 2018, Judge Patrick Grady ordered that the animals removed from theGalkowski residence (now totaling more than 800) had been neglected within the meaning of Iowa Code§717B.3. In that order, the Court ruled that all but 14 animals were to be permanently removed fromthe Galkowskis' custody. The Court ruled that the Galkowski family was permitted to retrieve a total ofnot more than ten rabbits and/or guinea pigs, along with one turtle and three lizards by February 16,2018, provided the Galkowskis paid expenses for the animals. The remaining animals were to be sold tothe public in groups of no more than 10 so long as they cleared as healthy. Any animals remaining afterFebruary 18, 2018, were to be destroyed as provided by Iowa Code §717B.4 (4). A hearing was held on February 15, 2018, and the Cedar Valley Humane Society was allowed tointervene in the matter. The Court amended its order to provide that should Cedar Valley HumaneSociety be unable to dispose of the animals by sale by February 26, 2018, Benton County had thediscretion to have the unsold animals euthanized. Late last week, a settlement was reached between the Cedar Valley Humane Society, Benton County,the City of Vinton, and Barbara & Marshall Galkowski. On February 26, 2018, the Court adopted thesettlement and release agreement in its entirety. As part of the settlement, the Galkowskis, BentonCounty and the City of Vinton permanently forfeited ownership of all seized animals, including the 14animals that were previously ordered to be returned to the Galkowskis. All seized animals are now theproperty of the Cedar Valley Humane Society and will be adopted out of that facility in accordance withits policies and mission. The Galkowskis are prohibited from attempting to reobtain ownership, either directly or via a third party, of the seized animals. In exchange, the Cedar Valley Humane Society has waived all fees associated with the seizure, transport,boarding, and in-facility care of the animals to Benton County, the City of Vinton and the Galkowskis. Cedar Valley Humane Society operates as a no-kill animal shelter. Therefore, all of the animals seizedfrom the Galkowski residence will be adopted out of its facility - none will be euthanized. Theorganization is beginning the process of preparing the animals to be placed up for adoption, which is setto begin within the next week. The Cedar Valley Humane Society is very much looking forward to placingeach of these animals into permanent, loving, and caring homes. The Cedar Valley Humane Society would like to thank attorneys Carrie Thompson, Christine Conover andMark Roberts of Simons Perrine Moyer Bergman PLC, and attorneys Natalie Clouse and Jeremiah Junkerof Bradley & Riley PC, for representing the organization in this matter. The Cedar Valley Humane Society would also like to thank the Vinton Police Department for workingalongside CVHS in the seizure of these animals. The Cedar Valley Humane Society would also like to thank the staff of Edgewood Animal Hospital, mostnotably Dr. Leigh Ennen and Dr. Bruce Ennen, for their long hours and assistance in providing ongoingmedical care for all of the animals in this case. Finally, the Cedar Valley Humane Society would like to thank the many volunteers and supporters whohave provided our organization with the help it needed to provide ongoing care to the animals in thiscase. Since the seizure of the animals, volunteers have spent more than 1,000 hours providing care tothe animals from this case.