Photo: Photo Provided By Animal Rescue League of Iowa
(Des Moines, IA) -- The Animal Rescue League of Iowa is providing care for over 100 dogs that were rescued from a property in Plymouth County.
"We could immediately hear a large number of dogs barking on the property when we pulled up even though at that time we couldn't see them all until we got into the property and the buildings and the house," said Robyn Dobernecker, Animal Rescue League of Iowa.
The dogs were found living in toxic and unsanitary conditions. Dobernecker says ammonia levels inside the home were dangerously high, and many of the dogs required urgent medical attention. Most were severely matted and needed emergency grooming. None of the dogs had access to fresh food or water.
The ARL, already operating at full capacity with over 1,500 animals in its care, had to set up emergency housing to accommodate the additional dogs.
"Unfortunately we have done a lot of rescues through the years that are larger rescues, this year however this is one of the larger rescues," said Robyn Dobernecker, Animal Rescue League of Iowa.
All of the dogs will eventually be up for adoption; however, it may take a while before they are on the adoption floor.
"Sometimes they will have a longer journey to the adoption floor than others, it just depends on what their current needs are, it also depends on the condition they were living in before being rescued, so some animals may be with us for 30 days, others may be with us for several months," said K.C. Routos, Animal Rescue League of Iowa.
The Plymouth County Sheriff’s Office also confirmed that three children were removed from the property and are now in the care of the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services.
The ARL needs donations to care for the dogs. The facility is at full capacity and has the dogs in emergency housing to accommodate the increase in animals.