The woman who owns the Manly, Iowa-based commercial breeding facility where 154 Samoyed dogs were seized in November wants to immediately inspect the 12 animals she seeks to get back.

White Fire Kennels Owner Barb Kavars, through her lawyer, Michael Byrne, filed the request Monday in Worth County District Court. She is seeking to get back nine dogs and three cats.

Worth County is seeking for the animals to be declared threatened and not be allowed to return to Kavars’ custody.

Court documents state one cat has been euthanized while in American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals care.

Kavars wants the ASPCA to provide information on the care and condition of the animals, including the euthanized cat.

“Kavars should have immediate access to the second animal heading in the same direction, to give and receive input on the decision of care for that animal,” court documents state.

In a written response Wednesday, Assistant Worth County Attorney Kelsey Beenken said Kavars’ access to the animals “is not authorized nor mandated by Iowa law” and requested the court not rule on the motion until the status of the 12 animals is decided.

Beenken asked for Kavars’ requests for care records for the animals and access, inspection and examinations for the dogs and cats be denied.

Beenken noted she would allow Kavars, at Kavars’ expense, to choose an Iowa-licensed veterinarian to inspect the ill cat at a location of the county’s choosing. Beenken requested Kavars not be present at the time of examination because “(Kavars) is not a licensed veterinarian, nor is her presence necessary.”

According to the county, it is not legally obligated to provide information on the animals during the case.

Kavars alleges the ASPCA and Worth County “withheld information that should have been made available to the owner.”

“There is no indication that in the past seven weeks since the animals were taken, information could not have been provided to Kavars, or the court, until after the animal has been put down without consent or approval of owner or the court,” court documents state. 

Beenken said Kavars was notified of the cat’s pending death, which the county deemed “ethically and medically necessary as the caretaker of the rescued animal to discontinue the unnecessary and painful suffering of the animal.”

Judge Douglas Krull has not ruled on Kavars request or her wish to return the 12 animals.

Kavars has not been charged in connection with the incident.