RIVERSIDE, Iowa (KCRG) – A former southeast Iowa commercial dog breeding facility owner has pled guilty in connection to an animal neglect case from last year. In August 2023, Iowa City Animal Services assisted law enforcement with taking in 131 dogs as they investigated animal welfare concerns in the 3000 block of 540th Street SW in Riverside. Experts say physical exams showed that the dogs had developed conditions caused by failure of adequate care.

Owner Loren Yoder surrendered his commercial breeding license shortly after the animal welfare inspection. As part of the plea agreement, Yoder pled guilty to 5 counts of Animal Neglect with Injury. He was sentenced 1 year of self-supervised probation. If Yoder violates that probation, he will then be sent to prison for 1 year.

Yoder will also be unable to obtain a canine breeding license as part of the agreement.