It was before dawn yesterday when our Animal Welfare & Response Team hit the road to assist law enforcement with 33 dogs in dire need about an hour north of Des Moines.
We arrived to find dogs chained to trees or trapped in makeshift pens. Many of the dogs were thin under their dirty, matted fur, and some of the trees had deep grooves under the chains from the dogs circling them over and over, desperate to be freed. Some dogs had no access to shelter because of the length of their chains, and others had little to protect them from the elements. One extremely matted dog was also blind. It was a heartbreaking scene.
As our rescue team worked to remove each dog and transport them to safety, our team at the shelter rushed to prepare emergency overflow housing in our training center. Our dog kennels were full, but these dogs could not wait. When our rescue team arrived, our animal care teams quickly moved each dog into a comfortable enclosure with a full bowl of water and a good meal. They were finally safe … but their healing journey is just beginning.
Vulnerable animals like these dogs will always be counting on us, and we never know when the next urgent call will come. The ARL is the only animal shelter in Iowa that has a dedicated rescue team capable of assisting with large-scale rescues across the state. But our team can only keep doing this lifesaving work with your support.
These dogs didn’t deserve this – no animal does. When you give today to support rescue efforts like these or choose to give monthly, you’ll ensure our rescue team can continue being there for innocent animals in Iowa, no matter the distance or how many animals are suffering.
Please give now to show these dogs, and so many other pets like them, that there is hope.
P.S.: When you give today or join our Loyal Friends Club monthly giving program, you’ll be automatically enrolled to receive updates on these dogs.
