UPDATE 04/04/19: 1 year-old Bella arrived at the ARL at the end of February emaciated, hunched over, shivering uncontrollably, and covered in urine and feces. She had been neglected and abandoned and was so weak from starvation and dehydration that she could barely stand. She was suffering from hypothermia and her body was beginning to shut down. Thanks to the quick action and skill of the ARL’s Veterinary team, Bella survived and his now with a family who loves her.
Bella’s owner, Patricia Hernandez just pleaded guilty to the charge of Animal Neglect – Care & Treatment and was ordered to pay a fine of just $65.
UPDATE 03/19/19: We’re happy to announce that Bella just walked out the door on her way to her new home! Her new mom had to say goodbye to her previous dog a while back and had been watching Bella’s story online. She fell in love with Bella as soon as she met her and has already started spoiling her with toys and treats from our Animal House store!
Bella has come so far from the little dog who arrived here emaciated and in need of emergency care. We could not be more thrilled to see her happy, healthy … and now home with her new family. Congratulations to Bella and her new mama!
UPDATE 03/18/19: Remember Bella, the abandoned dog who came to us emaciated and suffering from hypothermia? We’re happy to report that she is now healthy and ready for adoption! After everything she has been through, she does have some special needs. Interested in giving Bella a home? Here’s what she’s looking for:
- Someone to play and cuddle with her! Now that she feels better, Bella is a silly, bouncy girl who loves toys, scratches and pets.
- A calm, quiet home. Too much activity can be too much for her, but she thrives in a peaceful environment.
- A family who is willing to go very slowly with her if there are men in the household. She can be uncomfortable around some new people, particularly males, and may need extra time to get used to them.
- A home with no other dogs. Bella prefers not to share her space with other dogs, so she needs to be the only dog in her home.
- A home where it’s OK if she is vocal sometimes. Bella is an excellent doorbell and will let you know anytime she hears or sees anything. Because of this, apartment life might not be ideal for her.
- A family who will make her part of their daily lives. Bella bonds closely with her people, so she’s looking for a family who will love that!
We’re so excited for Bella to find the loving family she’s always deserved. If you can give Bella a home, please email Cassandra at petbehavior@arl-iowa.org!
It never gets easier. No matter how many times we see unimaginable suffering, the horror is still the same. That’s how it was when Bella arrived at the Animal Rescue League of Iowa just a few days ago.
The little dog was emaciated – hunched over, shivering uncontrollably, and covered in urine and feces. She had been neglected and abandoned and was so weak from starvation and dehydration that she could barely stand.
Even scarier, Bella was suffering from hypothermia. Her body was beginning to shut down. Bella isn’t out of the woods yet. She desperately needs your help.
Bella had arrived at the ARL just in time. Much longer and she would not have survived.
Our Emergency Care Team immediately started Bella on IV fluids and began actively warming her with heat packs and blankets. We held her as she shook and carefully cleaned her with dry shampoo, since her temperature was too low to risk using water. We gently treated her legs and feet, which were raw and inflamed from living in her own waste.

Your donation to our Miracle Medical Fund provides hope for Bella and other pets like her who come to the ARL in desperate need of help.
Bella is still facing a long road to recovery, but we’re happy to report that in the past few days in our care, she has gained a pound and we were finally able to give her a real bath.

With your help, Bella will never again know the horrors she suffered at the hands of her abuser, and once she has healed, she’ll have the chance to find the loving home she so deserves.
































UPDATE (2/6/19): Derrick Peterson has pleaded guilty to 1 count of animal Abandonment and 1 count of Animal Neglect for his role in the horrific case of Oscar, the severely emaciated dog who was found in a Des Moines dumpster in mid-November. As part of the plea, Peterson was ordered to serve 60 days in jail with 55 days suspended and 2 days credit for previous time-served after his arrest, leaving a remainder of 3 days left to serve. He was also ordered to pay $130 in fines plus additional restitution. Peterson has been placed on a 12 month probation and as a condition of this probation, he cannot own any animals during that time and he must complete an animal welfare class during this time, or he will face additional jail time.
UPDATE (11/24/18): Thanks to an outstanding investigation by the ARL Animal Control division and tips from the public, in cooperation with the Des Moines Police Department, we are pleased to announce that Derrick Dewayne Peterson has been arrested and charged with animal neglect and abandonment.








12/10/18 UPDATE: We’re excited to announce that Maddy & Beau were ADOPTED this weekend! These sweet dogs came to us with raw, scarred muzzles from having their mouths repeatedly bound shut (their former owner pleaded guilty to animal neglect). While their emotional wounds ran even deeper, they had been making steady progress in our care, and we’re thrilled that they now have the loving home they’ve always deserved! Congrats to these sweet dogs and their new family!


P.S. Kristina Rake of Humboldt was arrested and charged with 2 counts of Animal Neglect Causing Death or Serious Injury and 2 counts of Failure to Dispose Animal Remains. Rake pleaded guilty to both counts of Animal Neglect and was sentenced to 5 days in jail. The remaining charges were dropped as part of the plea agreement. Most animal neglect cases do not result in jail time, so we applaud the Humboldt County Sheriff’s office and the Humboldt County Prosecutor’s office for presenting a strong case and pursuing maximum penalties currently allowed under Iowa law. Even yet, this punishment does not fit the crime. Until our state lawmakers act on the proposed legislation to change this, animal abusers will continue to get away with just a “slap on the wrist” and Iowa will continue to be ranked as the 2nd worst state in the nation for animal welfare laws. Learn more about what we are doing to help strengthen these laws and how you can help at 
Many of the ponies were locked in stalls with 3-4 feet of mud and feces. About half were in a “dry lot” next to the barn, and the rest were in a pasture full of weeds and a small puddle from the rain serving as the only access to water. The feed boxes were all empty except for one that was full of twine – which could be lethal if the ponies ingested it. While we were there, some of the ponies were so hungry they were eating the hair that had fallen from the other ponies.


UPDATE (4/3/18; 4:15 PM) Leland Moffitt of Des Moines has been charged with 5 counts of Animal Neglect Causing Death (a serious misdemeanor) and 10 counts of Animal Neglect (a simple misdemeanor). In total, 52 living cats were involved in this rescue. Moffitt surrendered all 52 cats to the Animal Rescue League of Iowa (ARL) where following their spay/neuter surgeries and in some cases, behavioral rehabilitation, they will become available for adoption at the ARL.

July 26, 2017, 10:30 a.m.