Two Arrested in Delaware County Animal Neglect Case

Charges have now been filed against two people after more than forty animals were rescued from a Delaware County property earlier this spring.

On March 26th, the Delaware County Sheriff’s Office served a search warrant at the Rebecca Salow residence at 19761 258th Street southeast of Manchester.

The search warrant was part of an investigation conducted by the Sheriff’s Office and the Iowa Department of Agriculture & Land Stewardship to determine if unlicensed dog breeding and sales were being conducted from the Salow residence.

According to the Sheriff’s Office, numerous cats and dogs were found in the home and in one of the outbuildings during the search. Numerous dogs were housed in unsanitary conditions that lacked ventilation and contained excessive animal waste. Several dogs had severely matted fur and lacked proper grooming. 

Seven dead dogs and one dead kitten were found on the property. 

A total of 43 animals were also removed from the property – including 15 adult dogs, four puppies, fourteen adult cats and ten kittens. The Dubuque Regional Humane Society has been helping the animals recover.

The Delaware County Sheriff’s Office says charges were recently filed against 55-year old Rebecca Salow and 68-year old Dale Abbey, who both live at the property. Salow was charged with 23 counts of Animal Neglect, while Abbey was charged with eight counts of Animal Neglect. They’re both also charged with five counts of Failure to Dispose of a Dead Animal. 

Salow and Abbey were arrested on April 19th. Salow was later released on $5,000 bond, with Abbey also released on $2,500 bond.

photos courtesy of Delaware County Sheriff’s Office