Police say 20 animals were seized from the home of an Ames, Iowa woman accused of trying to perform surgery on a puppy in her living room, which resulted in the dog’s death.
The Des Moines Register reports that following a search last Friday of Sarah Diane McMenanim’s home, officials seized three dogs, two cats, six guinea pigs, five rabbits, two salamanders and two geckos.
Officials say the animals’ cages and aquariums were covered in feces and urine. All the animals were all taken to a local animal shelter for care.
McMenanim, 26, was charged last week with animal neglect causing death after using a paring knife and tongs to try to remove a blockage from the dog’s abdomen herself.
Officials say the dog died within seconds of the surgery.
McMenamin “cut open her living dog with a paring knife and tongs to retrieve an obstructed object” on June 1 at her home in the 2800 block of Arbor Street, court records allege.
McMenamin also told police she believed the dog had eaten rat poison, records show.
The dog was 2.5 months old and mixed breed, said Cmdr. Geoff Huff, Ames police spokesman.
McMenamin caused unjustified pain, distress or suffering, that resulted in the death of her dog seconds after the surgery,” court records show.
McMenamin had taken her dog to a veterinarian at Iowa State University on May 31, the day before her arrest, Huff said. The ISU vet told McMenamin the dog required a surgery that would likely cost more than $2,000, he said.
McMenamin reportedly told the ISU vet she would go to a different veterinarian the next day to have the unhealthy dog euthanized instead of undergoing the expensive surgery, Huff said.
McMenamin made an appointment for June 1, but didn’t show up, so the veterinarians called animal control because they were concerned for the dog’s health, he said. Animal control officers called police for assistance.
When officers arrived, McMenamin told them she had tried to perform surgery on her dog, Huff said. At that time, the dog was deceased.
McMenamin’s motivations were unclear, but Huff said it appeared she did not intend to kill the dog.
We think she was trying to be helpful,” he said.
McMenamin was booked into the Story County Jail upon arrest. She has since been released after paying $1,000 bond, court records show.
h/t: Des Moines Register
