A local woman is accused of breeding dogs, abusing them and then dumping them on the side of the road to fend for themselves.    

45 year old Denise Withee of Mapleton, Iowa will soon be charged with animal abuse and abandonment.

She's is custody, but in Grand Island, Nebraska, because according to Monona County investigators, this isn't the first time she's dumped her dogs.

Monona County authorities rounded up nearly 40 dogs on July 27th after neighbors in Rodney, Iowa called in and complained about strays. Investigators then used microchip technology to link the abandoned dogs to Withee.  

"We did do a search warrant at a Mapleton residence and found more dogs and had to red tag the home because of the condition it was in. A lot of dog feces, a lot of dogs in the residence," says Sheriff Pratt.

From Dobermans to Labradoodles, all the dogs are now being cared for at either a kennel in South Sioux City, NE, Sioux City Animal Control or the Siouxland Humane Society.

"It did appear like they were getting food and water. They probably don't weigh what they should weigh but they're not malnourished. Medical-wise, they were loaded with fleas. They also had lice they had hair loss due to the fact that they were living in wet conditions, probably having to lay and sleep in their own feces and urine," says Jerry Dominicak, Humane Society Director.  

Monona County Sheriff, Jeff Pratt, says Withee will face animal abuse charges in Iowa but after she goes through the legal system in Hall County, Nebraska. That's where she's being accused of recently dumping about 30 more dogs, 23 of which were found dead.

Pratt, who's been with the department for 18 years, says his community his outraged.  

"We've never had a case like this that I can remember since I've been here, where so many dogs had kind of been thrown out," says Pratt.

Pratt says Withee is in custody in Hall County, NE undergoing psychiatric evaluation. He also says they're looking for a few other suspects who may be involved in the case. He says Withee may not have recently been living in her Mapleton house but it appears that someone was. If you have any information on the case call 712-433-1414.