Sioux City Journal

Mapleton woman accused in dead dog case released

8:38 AM

Posted: Thursday, August 21, 2008

GRAND ISLAND, Neb., (AP) -- An Iowa woman accused of dumping dead or dying dogs in a cornfield near Grand Island is out of jail on bond.

Denise Withee, of Mapleton, Iowa, is charged in Hall County Court with five counts of cruel neglect of animals. She was released from jail on Tuesday after posting bond, and ordered to live with her sister in Hastings.

The five dogs were among animals left in the field in late July or taken from Withee when she was arrested at a motel.

Authorities say the dogs died of dehydration, diseases and/or malnutrition.

Withee's preliminary hearing is Oct. 30.

She also faces charges of animal abuse and abandonment in Iowa.

Story Comments

pam wrote on Aug 21, 2008 7:15 PM:

" I would like to reply to Dan. I feel sorry that your dog has you for a master. I would figure a man would resort to name calling. My dogs do not annoy my neighbors nor do I have to pick up their crap. See I have 10 acres and they find the timber. All my animals from my goats to my chickens and from my horses to my dogs are all parts of my family. I would be more upset if I lost my animals than my family! "

Pam wrote on Aug 21, 2008 4:35 PM:

" To Dan, I should have know the name calling would come from a man!! I feel sorry for your dog, sounds like he picked the wrong master. "

Pam wrote on Aug 21, 2008 4:15 PM:

" And another thing, I could not just replace my dog in a couple of days. I would shed more tears over them than certain members of my own family. Oh,by the way, I have replaced many people in my life because I guess I haven't been as fortunate as you to always have loving,honest,faithful,and loyal human beings in my life. "

Pam wrote on Aug 21, 2008 4:12 PM:

" I have do defend my "dogs are people too" comment. My animals are my family, they are more loving, loyal, and faithful than ANY human beings. My dogs do not bark nor do they get into the garbage. I guess, moron, if you don't like cleaning up your dogs crap, you should live someplace where you don't have to do that. I have 10 acres and my dog does her business in the timber. "

Pam wrote on Aug 21, 2008 3:39 PM:

" To follow up on my "dogs are people too". I am a responsible pet owner, my dogs do not bark, they stay in their own yard, and are a healthy and happy part of my family. I would be sad more than a day or two and wouldn't go right out and find another "dog" because they mean too much to me. All my animals from my horses, to my goats and my dogs and cats are part of my family and not easily replaced. Actually, I wouldn't shed as many tears over some of my extended family members as I would over my animals. At least they always treat me with respect which is MORE than I can say for humans. Any human who abuses their animals, abuse their "family" as well. Does this woman have children and what kind of a home did they grow up in???? "