The Cedar Valley Humane Society is pleased to announce that it has reached a voluntary legal  settlement and release agreement with Benton County, the City of Vinton, and Barbara & Marshall  Galkowski in the matter of the Petition for Disposition of Threatened Animals filed by Benton County on  January 22, 2018. In an order issued February 8, 2018, Judge Patrick Grady ordered that the animals removed from the  Galkowski 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 from  the Galkowskis’ custody. The Court ruled that the Galkowski family was permitted to retrieve a total of  not 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 to  the public in groups of no more than 10 so long as they cleared as healthy. Any animals remaining after  February 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 to  intervene in the matter. The Court amended its order to provide that should Cedar Valley Humane  Society be unable to dispose of the animals by sale by February 26, 2018, Benton County had the  discretion 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 the  settlement and release agreement in its entirety. As part of the settlement, the Galkowskis, Benton  County and the City of Vinton permanently forfeited ownership of all seized animals, including the 14  animals that were previously ordered to be returned to the Galkowskis. All seized animals are now the  property of the Cedar Valley Humane Society and will be adopted out of that facility in accordance with  its 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 seized  from the Galkowski residence will be adopted out of its facility – none will be euthanized. The  organization is beginning the process of preparing the animals to be placed up for adoption, which is set  to begin within the next week. The Cedar Valley Humane Society is very much looking forward to placing  each of these animals into permanent, loving, and caring homes. The Cedar Valley Humane Society would like to thank attorneys Carrie Thompson, Christine Conover and  Mark Roberts of Simons Perrine Moyer Bergman PLC, and attorneys Natalie Clouse and Jeremiah Junker  of 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 working  alongside CVHS in the seizure of these animals. The Cedar Valley Humane Society would also like to thank the staff of Edgewood Animal Hospital, most  notably Dr. Leigh Ennen and Dr. Bruce Ennen, for their long hours and assistance in providing ongoing  medical care for all of the animals in this case. Finally, the Cedar Valley Humane Society would like to thank the many volunteers and supporters who  have provided our organization with the help it needed to provide ongoing care to the animals in this  case. Since the seizure of the animals, volunteers have spent more than 1,000 hours providing care to  the animals from this case.