Daltin Dillingham booking photo.

GARWIN – A Garwin man has been arrested and charged with animal neglect following the discovery of a deceased dog at his residence.

According to court documents, on Wednesday, Aug. 20 just after 9 p.m., Daltin Allen Dillingham, 26, of Garwin was arrested and charged with driving under suspension and animal neglect with injury or death by the Tama County Sheriff’s Department following an investigation in the 100 block of Park Street. Prior to his arrest, Dillingham was allegedly observed by a deputy driving up to a residence in that location.

Law enforcement had been called to the residence to investigate a deceased dog in a kennel, a dog tied on the residence’s back steps, and a dog running loose in the yard.

“Upon arrival a black dog was observed deceased in the locked kennel,” the criminal complaint indicates. Statements were provided by neighbors alleging that the dogs regularly go without water. The responding deputy noted a “fresh tunnel had been dug under the kennel wire large enough for the smaller dog to get out of. The dirt was inside the kennel, showing that the tunnel was dug from inside the kennel. There was a small wading pool inside this kennel which was the only water vessel in it. It was bone dry and the dirt under it was also bone dry.”

All three dogs allegedly were without food and did not have protection from the elements; the dog tied to the steps did, however, have a bowl of water.

Dillingham was taken into custody that same evening and charged with one count of animal neglect with serious injury or death, an aggravated misdemeanor. He made an initial appearance the following day in Tama County District Court; bond was set at $4,000 cash or surety in the animal neglect case. He bonded out that same day and was ordered not to possess or have any animals in his care until further order.

Dillingham is being represented by attorney Scott Hunter of the Marshalltown Public Defender’s Office. As of press time, a preliminary hearing had been set for this past Tuesday, August 26.