In March, David Goodburn adopted 2 Bonded Buddy dogs from the ARL, promising to give them a great life. Nori (3 years old) and Brie (1.5 years old) were incredibly sweet girls who loved belly rubs, toys, and especially people. Goodburn completed the adoption counseling process, signed the adoption contract committing to the high standards of care we expect from all of our adopters, and paid an adoption fee. At no point were there any indicators during the adoption process that Nori and Brie would not be safe.
This week ARL Animal Services Officers were called to the home of David Goodburn where, to their horror, they discovered the unimaginable: Nori and Brie were deceased inside his Des Moines apartment. Goodburn is accused of abandoning the dogs and leaving them trapped in the apartment to fend for themselves, which ultimately led to their deaths. He has been charged with 2 counts of animal neglect, a serious misdemeanor demonstrating “willful intent”. The investigation is ongoing and is now with the DMPD. Goodburn remains in Polk County jail as of present.

We are shocked, heartbroken, and furious. Goodburn not only lied to and misled our team, he did the same to the multiple people who were with him and the dogs inside the home after they were adopted. No one saw any red flags until the call came this week…and by then it was too late.
We have adopted 2,614 pets since the beginning of the year, but these pets are so much more than just a number to us: they’re part of our extended ARL family. We love them deeply, care for them diligently, and take great care in ensuring they go to great homes. We will continue to work with law enforcement to hold Goodburn accountable and will be pursuing civil action for his violation of our adoption contract.
No animal should have to suffer the ways these 2 dogs suffered and the charges allowed by current state law are incredibly inadequate for the crime. Prior to the session recessing in March due to COVID-19, the state Senate had passed a bill to improve the definitions and penalties for animal crimes and it now waits in the House for when the session resumes in early June. We urge you to ask your state representative to support the current version of HF737 so it can go to the governor’s desk. Making your voice heard is fast, it’s easy, and it could have lasting impact on animals in Iowa for years to come. Visit VoterVoice to send a message.
Every single day we receive photos and stories from ARL adopters and they always mean so much to us, but today, we really need something to smile about. We would love to see photos and updates of the ARL pets in your homes, so please share on our Facebook page or upload through our submission form.
In loving memory of Nori and Brie.

































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!
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.






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.