Officials with the Animal Rescue League of Iowa report a western Iowa man was arrested for allegedly killing a rabbit at the ARL’s Central Iowa Shelter, Sunday night. ARL CEO Tom Colvin said 64-year old Bobby Carothers, of Carroll, was arrested hours later and charged with Animal Torture and Trespassing. The body of a rabbit, named “Petunia,” was discovered after the shelter had a successful day adopting 33 pets into new homes.

Bobby Carothers

Colvin said “From the time we opened until past closing time, our adoption team had been busy helping customers find their new pet family member. As our team began performing their closing duties, including performing a final check on the animals for the evening, there was still a man in the shelter. They asked him to leave since we were now closed. Just minutes after he left the building,” Colvin said, they discovered Petunia had been violently killed.

Colvin said “The scene was beyond gruesome. We immediately called Polk County dispatch and deputies arrived to begin the investigation and secure the property to ensure our team was safe, since the suspect’s location and further intent was unknown.” During an investigation, Deputies with the Polk County Sheriff’s Office arrested Carothers about three hours later, after he pulled a fire alarm at a Des Moines trucking company. His bond was set at $2,000 on the animal torture charge and $300 on the trespassing charge.

Colvin said in his statement, “We are devastated, we are shocked, and we are outraged, but beyond that, we are furious. Furious that someone could do this to an innocent animal, furious at the brazen attack on one of our very own, and furious at the lawmakers whose inaction last session will mean the person who did this to Petunia will not get the punishment they deserve.” He added “Iowa’s laws need to change once and for all. For Petunia. For all animals.”