Pigs, chickens, rabbits and child found in filthy house

A 5-year-old girl shared a 528-square-foot Des Moines house with pigs, chickens, rabbits, dogs, cats and overwhelming odours before she was removed on Sunday, police said.

The roster of animals appears to be legal.



The girl's mother, Lia Eckerman, said her pot-bellied pigs were inside because it was cold outside. Pigs have skin sort of like humans, she said, "and they get cold, too."

Her daughter, who was found sleeping with Eckerman and two dogs, will remain with her grandparents until the Iowa Department of Human Services finishes an investigation, Des Moines police Sgt. Chris Scott said. That could take up to three weeks.

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