(OTTUMWA, Iowa) - The Wapello County Supervisors discussed toughening the county's animal control ordinances, but ultimately took no action on Tuesday.
The Supervisors were discussing the issue at the request of Jerry Parker.
Parker had previously expressed distress that the county may have been responsible for a pet hoarding incident in Ottumwa two weeks ago.
Sue Davis, a board member of the no-Kill Heartland Humane Society was cited in mid-November for having 90 cats and dogs in her home.
Parker believes many of the animals were originally turned in to the county, and the Davis implied she was collecting them for the society so they animals would not be put down.
Other members of the Heartland Humane Society believed the organization was being blamed for the actions of Davis, and showed up to defend the organization.
"I didn't realize until I joined the board what a wonderful job they did and I feel that Heartland Humane has been sort of given a black eye," said Board Member Lucy Starr.
In the end, the discussion was civil, and all parties agreed that there were simply too many stray animals roaming the county.
The Supervisors did not take any action on Tuesday, but are considering a variety of actions including better record keeping on adoptions, a fee structure for adoptions, or simply not collecting any more cats.
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