Crippled Cows in Iowa Need Your Help!

Franklin County, Iowa, resident and cattle farmer Larry Doane reportedly forced a number of his cows to live with horribly overgrown hooves. Alarming video footage recorded by local residents shows that the cows, who sloshed around a muddy Iowa field, were crippled by neglect. Worse yet, instead of humanely euthanizing these suffering animals or providing them with the care that is required by law, Doane reportedly moved them to an undisclosed location—possibly a slaughterhouse.

We have asked authorities to locate the cows and ensure that they are no longer suffering, but authorities have shown little urgency about this case. Now these animals need your help!

Please contact officials, and politely urge them to locate the cows with the overgrown hooves immediately and ensure that a veterinarian humanely euthanizes the animals. Urge officials to charge Doane as appropriate. Ask that—if convicted and in addition to serving a period of incarceration—Doane be required to undergo a thorough psychological evaluation followed by mandatory counseling at his own expense. Because repeat crimes are the rule rather than the exception among animal abusers, please also ask that officials take every measure necessary to ensure that Doane, if convicted, is barred from owning or harboring animals for as long as possible.

Please send polite comments to:

Larry Richtsmeier, Sheriff
Franklin County Courthouse
641-456-2731
641-456-2216 (fax)
lrichtsmeier@co.franklin.ia.us

The Honorable Brent Symens
Franklin County Attorney
641-892-4658
641-456-2489 (fax)
http://co.franklin.ia.us/pages/contact_us (E-Mail Form: Please select "Attorney" in the dropdown menu.)

Board of Supervisors
Franklin County Courthouse
12 First Ave. N.W.
P.O. Box 26
Hampton, IA 50441
641-456-5624
641-456-6001 (fax)

Jerry Plagge, Chair
Board of Supervisors
District #2
302 S. Reynolds St.
Latimer, IA 50452
641-579-6060
jplagge@co.franklin.ia.us

Michael Nolte
Board of Supervisors
District #1
1694 Warbler Ave.
Hampton, IA 50441
641-456-5444
mnolte@co.franklin.ia.us

Corey Eberling
Board of Supervisors
District #3
1137 250th St.
Sheffield, IA 50475
641-892-4726
ceberling@co.franklin.ia.us