Dogs from Boone County at the ARL of Iowa shelter
Like animal shelters across the nation, the ARL has been grappling with a critically high population of dogs, but when we received an urgent call to help rescue nearly 100 dogs from a puppy mill in Boone County, it was clear those dogs couldn’t wait.
When our Mobile Rescue Team arrived, the smell hit us before we even entered the buildings. The dogs were living in their own feces and urine, including some mamas and newborn puppies. Many of the dogs were matted and some were incredibly thin. One by one we carried them to clean crates so they could begin the journey toward their new lives.
Back at the shelter our kennels were already full, so our team rushed to set up temporary housing to prepare for this unexpected influx of dogs. When the dogs arrived, our medical and care teams worked into the evening to make sure they were all cared for and comfortable for the night.
These dogs had never known life outside of a breeding facility, so over the next few days our behavior team evaluated them all and created individualized care plans to help them learn that life and people are OK. We quickly moved the mamas and dozens of neonate puppies into foster homes, so they could get extra TLC and get used to home life. Our partners at a grooming school worked for hours on the severely matted dogs, freeing them from their tangled, dirty fur and making them comfortable for the first time in what may have been months or even years.
Weeks later, we’re happy to say that several of the dogs have been adopted! The rest—including the moms and puppies—will continue to recover in our care until they are ready to find new homes.
Many of these dogs still have a long road ahead, but thanks to you, they are now free from the commercial breeding system and on the path to a better life.
Your support of the ARL changes lives every day and makes it possible for us to continue to answer these urgent calls for help. To learn more about all the ways you can make a difference, please contact Lora Rogers at (515) 473-9119 or legacy@arl-iowa.org.