DUBUQUE, Iowa – July 23, 2025 – A bomb threat reported early this morning at Simmons Pet Food’s facility in the 400 block of Seippel Road caused significant disruptions, delaying the start of the first shift and extending the third shift as authorities conducted a thorough investigation. The Dubuque Police Department (DUPD) received the call at 4:13 AM and cleared the scene by 8:38 AM after determining the threat was not credible.

The Simmons Pet Food cannery, a 275,000-square-foot facility in the Dubuque Industrial Center, was evacuated as a precautionary measure. Third-shift workers, nearing the end of their overnight duties, were held back, while incoming first-shift employees had to wait till the plant was cleared.

Police and Fireman searched the plant, which includes a 5,000-square-foot receiving area, a 10,000-square-foot freezer, and a 75,000-square-foot warehouse, finding no explosive devices or suspicious items.

The $100 million facility, operational since July 2021, employs over 270 workers and produces wet pet food for major brands, contributing a $13.7 million annual payroll to the local economy. The disruption halted production lines critical to the company’s output, though operations resumed by mid-morning.