A former southern Iowa puppy mill operator, Daniel Gingerich will serve 30 days in jail for animal neglect after a plea deal with prosecutors before a scheduled arraignment on March 29. In six months, Gingerich amassed more than 120 violations of the Animal Welfare Act.
According to the ASPCA.org press release, Gingerich originally faced two counts of animal neglect with serious injury or death, and four counts of animal neglect. Four of the six charges were dismissed pursuant to the plea agreement made with the Wayne County Attorney’s Office.
Gingerich told the court he has an eighth grade education was not represented by an attorney. One of the two remaining charges of animal neglect that resulted in injury, he was ordered to pay a $430 fine along with his jail sentence. He will also serve two years of probation and pay an additional fine of $855 although the judge waived that fine during sentencing last Monday.
The most serious charge involved the egregious neglect of a severely emaciated, adult golden retriever and a golden-doodle puppy that died from complications of Parvovirus. The other complaint involved the purchase of dogs from the “Retrieve A Golden From the Midwest” group. The criminal complaint stated that 13 dogs were purchased, but five arrived with medical issues including pneumonia. One of the dogs died. All of the dogs had similar health issues.
In November 2021, Gingerich was permanently banned from selling, breeding or brokering dogs and agreed to surrender 514 dogs to the Animal Rescue League of Iowa and the ASPCA.
Even in this case where the USDA appears to have drawn a line, it is not enough to protect these dogs. To date, the USDA has not removed the hundreds of dogs known to still be on Gingerich’s property, and it is likely many more dogs owned by him will never be accounted for.
If the USDA is unable or unwilling to reform its broken policies, Congress must step in to ensure humane care for vulnerable animals. But you can play a part, too–we invite you to urge Congress to include strong language to reform the USDA’s policies in the annual Agriculture Appropriations bill and join our Advocacy Brigade to use your voice to help stop puppy mill cruelty.
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