News : VPD, Humane Society removing many animals from Vinton residence; probe continues

Police and the Humane Society are removing animals from the residence at 607 6th Street in Vinton. The VPD plans to issue a press release soon. Members of the Vinton Police Department and the Cedar Valley Humane Society spent all afternoon Tuesday at 607 West 6th Street in Vinton, removing as many as 1,000 or more animals from the residence in what a Humane Society spokesperson calls the worst case of animal hoarding he has ever seen. Preston Moore of the CVHS says the organization is asking for the public's help. "What we need most is financial donations," said Moore. The CVHS is also accepting small mammal food. There may be opportunities for volunteers to provide foster care for some of the animals, as well. For more information about how to help, call the CVHS at 319-362-6288. Most of the animals will have significant veterinarian bills, says Moore, due to lack of sufficient food and water. The Vinton Police Department says those animals included "rabbits, rats, mice, hedgehogs, chinchillas, turtles, fish, birds, hamsters, guinea pigs, gerbils, and a ball python. A preliminary estimate suggests at least 500 and possibly up to 1000 animals present at the residence. Several dead animals were found scattered throughout the residence in various states of decomposition or stored in a freezer." Neighbors reported seeing officials carrying out crates with various animals, including fish, rodents and reptiles, throughout the afternoon. Gloria Orcutt, who lives nearby, said authorities arrived before noon, and have carried out many crates of animals from the house. A horse trailer was parked outside the residence. According to real estate records, Marshall and Barbara Galkowski bought the residence in October of 2017. Barb (Babs) Galkowski owns the Rocket Equine business near Shellsburg, according to her Facebook page. She also runs a business called Rocket Rabbitry. No decision on criminal charges/civil sanctions has been made, according to the VPD press release, which appears at the end of this story. The case remains under investigation. 'Do it yourself surgery' Vinton City Council member Tami Stark was among those who saw the animals first-hand. "What you could see on the news does not portray the actual conditions," said Stark, who said she is still trying to find words to describe what the rescuers saw and smelled in that house. "I never want to see anything like that again," said Stark, adding praise for law enforcement personnel and the animal organization representatives who entered the home to rescue those that could be saved. "There is not enough good I can say for those volunteer organizations. They are our heroes," said Stark. "And our VPD did an awesome job with assisting and maintaining some order." In a graphic Facebook post, the CVHS said the smell, empty water and food dishes, the sight of dead animals sharing cages with living ones, and even apparent incidents of "Do it Yourself" surgery performed on the animals was just part of the devastation its personnel found. Had asked city hall for permission to sell snakes Vinton City Administrator Chris Ward was among local officials to see first-hand the animal situation in the Galkowski house. "There were dead animals among the live ones," he said. Ward said that while the Galkowskis never officially filed any paperwork, Barb asked him several weeks ago about the possibility of using that residence to sell snakes. "I told her no," said Ward, explaining how city ordinances do not allow that. Vinton Police Department Press Release The VPD press release on the case appears below in its entirety: On Tuesday, January 16, 2018, at approximately 9:10 a.m., the City of Vinton's building inspector/code enforcement officer and members of the Vinton Police Department executed an administrative search warrant at 607 W. 6th Street in Vinton or order to inspect the property related to suspected violations of city ordinances involving "dangerous and vicious animals"� and nuisance abatement. Officers found an extraordinary number of animals inside the house and a detached garage. The animals included rabbits, rats, mice, hedgehogs, chinchillas, turtles, fish, birds, hamsters, guinea pigs, gerbils, and a ball python. A preliminary estimate suggests at least 500 and possibly up to 1000 animals present at the residence. Several dead animals were found scattered throughout the residence in various states of decomposition or stored in a freezer. Four children were living at the residence and the parents are currently cooperating with the Iowa Department of Human Services regarding the welfare of the children. The animals were removed by volunteers from the Cedar Valley Humane Society, the Friends of the Shelter, and the Wild Thunder Animal Rescue. A veterinarian assessed the condition of the residence and the animals and determined that many of them were malnourished, dehydrated and were living in overcrowded conditions that were heavily contaminated with excessive amounts of fecal matter. The Cedar Valley Humane Society is accepting donations to assist with the care of the animals that were seized. This investigation is ongoing and no decision has yet been made regarding any possible criminal charges or civil sanctions. Additional information may be released as it becomes available. The City of Vinton building inspector/code enforcement officer and Vinton Police Department were assisted during this investigation by the Benton County Sheriff's Office and the Iowa Department of Human Services.