By James Stratton
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SEYMOUR, Iowa (KCCI) – While ASPCA and Animal Rescue League of Iowa volunteers and staff work to get hundreds of dogs out of his rural Iowa estate, Daniel Gingerich has agreed to sell, breed, or refer dogs set permanently. Wayne County Sheriff Keith Davis says Gingerich will face criminal charges soon.
A settlement aimed at settling a federal civil lawsuit between Gingerich and the Justice Department was filed in court late Friday. A judge’s approval is still required.
In it, Gingerich declares his willingness to give all 514 dogs to the ARL of Iowa and “permanently forego all activities that require an AWA”. [Animal Welfare Act] License ”among other things.
According to USDA records, Gingerich has amassed 120 animal welfare law violations since March. USDA investigators visited its facilities 18 times in a six-month period.
The agreement filed on Friday also specified how many dogs Gingerich owned.
The location at 3125 Davis Road in Seymour, the largest, had 275 dogs, including Toy Aussies, Cocker Spaniels, Labradoodles, Goldendoodles, and more.
The second location, 25316 Elk Chapel Road in Lamoni, had 161 dogs. This property has a Pomsky breed, which is a cross between a Pomeranian and a Siberian Husky.
ASPCA and ARL of Iowa will confiscate 33 dogs from 28920 188th Avenue in Davis City, 23 from 12340 240th Street in Lamoni, 13 from 1405 120th Street in Hazleton, and 9 from 3002 Highway 2 in Promise City.
ASPCA and ARL will at least take the rescued dogs from the Seymour site to the Wayne County Fairgrounds, where they will be examined by a veterinarian and sent to other shelters. It is not clear where these accommodations are located, and ARL has declined several requests for comment.
“I’m glad I got that part over with,” said Sheriff Keith Davis. “Then we will go ahead and pursue the criminal charges that will come later.”
Davis couldn’t tell when the charges will be brought or what they might be, but said he is working with the DOJ and USDA to obtain adequate documentation.
He went on to say that Gingerich had shown remorse for the situation.
“He apologized to me and said he was the one to blame for all of this,” Sheriff Davis said, adding that Gingerich has announced that he will face the indictment. “He’s taking responsibility.”
Since March, USDA investigators have found 120 animal welfare violations at Daniel Gingrich’s dog breeding facility. Over a six month period, but only closed in early September after Gingrich’s license was suspended for 21 days.
Documents show that the first of 18 inspections took place in March, but the USDA waited until September 7 to suspend Gingerich’s license for 21 days, and the Justice Department filed an injunction with the federal civil court on behalf of the federal government. That lawsuit is when the settlement agreement has been filed by the DOJ and Gingerich and has yet to be signed by a federal judge.
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