Woman cited for mailing cow poop to neighbors

BURLINGTON, Iowa, Jan. 2 (UPI) -- An Iowa woman is facing a harassment charge for having a box of cow poop mailed to her neighbors after they repeatedly complained about her dog's barking.

Burlington police said Kimberly Capdevila, 51, sent the smelly package to neighbors Steve Rowland and Mary Eipert through website poopsenders.com after the neighbors repeatedly complained to police about Capdevila's dog barking during the past three years.

"On Dec. 13, Rowland received a package in the mail from poopsenders.com," Des Moines County District Associate Court documents state. "Inside the package was a substance that was identified as animal feces. On Dec. 29, (officers) spoke with Kimberly Capdevila, who stated she had the package sent to the Rowlands because of the ongoing problems between the two families."

Police said poopsenders.com, which offers deliveries of cow, elephant and gorilla poop through the United States Postal Service, did not break the law by filling Capdevila's order. The website says customers "may not use our service to threaten, constitute harassment, violate a legal restraint, or any other unlawful purpose. The customer agrees this is a gag gift, novelty service for entertainment only, and that is their only intention."

Capdevila was cited for third-degree harassment and is due in court Jan. 6.

The suspect told Burlington newspaper The Hawk Eye she did not intend for her neighbors to be offended by the package.

"In no way, shape or form did I intend this to be anything more than a practical joke," she said. "I was given a website that I thought was anonymous. I thought it would be a funny thing to do to send it to my neighbors.

"After all the problems we've had, I thought it would be a funny thing to do. I am sorry if they took offense to it. If they took offense, I apologize. I never intended to harass them. I look forward to having my day in court."

Game company Cards Against Humanity mailed out 30,000 boxes of "literal poop from an actual bull" as part of a Black Friday promotion, but those boxes were sent directly to customers who were informed of what they were receiving.