Baudler Calls on O'Brien to Explain Animal Cruelty Charges

Baudler Calls on O'Brien to Explain Animal Cruelty Charges

RPI: Baudler Calls on O'Brien to Explain Animal Cruelty Charges in Limited Time Before Election
11/2/2006
Contact: Rep. Clel Baudler, 641-431-3309

Greenfield, Iowa -- State Representative Clel Baudler, member of the Iowa House of Representatives Agriculture Committee, called on Denise O'Brien to explain the animal cruelty charges filed by the Cass County Sheriff in 1987 before voters go to the polls next Tuesday.

Denise O'Brien and Larry Harris are married and according to her television commercials, have farmed together for 30 years. The Cass County sheriff filed charges of intentional cruelty to animals against Larry Harris which resulted in Denise O'Brien and Larry Harris paying restitution to resolve the charges.

According to the complaint, the Iowa Department of Agriculture contacted the sheriff's office concerning “starving cattle” owned by Larry Harris. The Sheriff writes: “The cattle were very thin and had only water to consume. It was evident from imprints and hair on the ground that there were three dead cattle which had been removed. We took pictures of all of the cattle and in my opinion, as well as the opinion of Norm Rasmussen [Dept of Agriculture], the cattle had been seriously injured and a few had possibly died from the lack of adequate care.”

“Before Denise O'Brien is put in charge of all Iowa livestock, she should first explain why she and her husband failed to take care of the livestock they had in their care,” said Baudler.

The check to resolve the issue carries the names of Denise O'Brien and Larry Harris. Its made out in the amount of $319.45 of which $250 was a donation to the local animal shelter.

While O'Brien's husband, Larry Harris, is the named defendant in the criminal complaint, O'Brien has claimed in her political advertising that the two of them have farmed together for thirty years.

“If Denise was farming with her husband, then she had must have known about the cattle in their care dying of starvation. She owes the state an explanation about these charges and why she would allow this to happen,” said Baudler.

O'Brien's website, http://www.deniseobrien.com claims: “Denise understands the challenges and rewards of Iowa agriculture firsthand. She and her husband Larry Harris have operated a family farm near Atlantic, Iowa since 1976 where they milked cows until 1995. ”See the complaint and cancelled check