By Staci DaSilva
sdasilva@kcautv.com
51-year old Jon Holloway faces weapons charges, reckless use of a firearm and discharging a gun within city limits, after killing his 2 Labradors on Tuesday.
But local animal advocates are hoping he faces more charges soon.
The news of 51-year old Jon Holloway of Sioux City shooting and killing his own 2 dogs at his home, does not sit well with Martha McMinn, an attorney and avid animal lover.
And what makes it even more serious to her, he's not facing any animal abuse or cruelty charges.
"I just can't see any excuse ever for shooting your dogs. I think something needs to be done with the law," said McMinn.
Iowa law states that a person is not guilty of animal abuse, even if the act results in the animals death, if the person is "reasonably acting to protect a person from injury or death caused by an unconfined animal."
Holloway argues his dogs were acting aggressive, but Cindy Rarrat with Sioux City Animal Adoption & Rescue was called to remove the dogs from the home.
"There was no indication as far as if those dogs were aggressive," said Cindy Rarrat.
Rarrat had the power to give Holloway a cruelty to animals citation through the city, but felt he deserved a more severe punishment than a fine, so, she turned him over to the state.
"Intentional cruelty is what I was hoping for on a state level, which is an aggravated misdemeanor as opposed to a municipal infraction on a city level," said Rarrat.
As of right now though, the intentional cruelty charges files have been dropped.
Rarrat said, "I just think that was the cruelest thing that anybody could have ever done especially when there are other options that are available to people."
Rarrat said she is still working with County Attorneys to re-file charges against Holloway that would include some kind of animal cruelty charge.
