Latest Update: November 20, 2018

Following the seizure of dogs and puppies from an inhumane commercial breeding facility in Worth County, Iowa, the ASPCA has begun placing a select group of dogs with shelters and rescue groups in the Midwest region for fostering and adoption. The remaining dogs will continue to be assessed by veterinary forensic and behavior experts, and cared for at an undisclosed temporary shelter, in support of the investigation led by the Worth County Sheriff’s Office.

Over the past few days, the ASPCA worked with our network of rescue groups and shelters to find suitable placement options for a select group of dogs, following careful evaluation of the animals’ medical and behavioral disposition.

Agencies that received dogs from the ASPCA include:

• Cedar Bend Humane Society (Waterloo, Iowa);
• Humane Society of North Iowa (Mason City, Iowa);
• Nebraska Humane Society (Omaha, Nebraska); and
• Wichita Animal Action League (Wichita, Kansas).

“We are incredibly grateful for our response partners who are supporting our rescue operation by sending volunteers to care for these animals, as well as taking in animals to give them a second chance,” said Jessica Rushin, Senior Manager of ASPCA Partnerships. “Our responders have been working around the clock to care for these dogs, and we look forward to seeing them move on to the next stage where they will have an opportunity to be adopted into safe and loving homes.”

Your support for the ASPCA helps us rescue, protect and care for animals in need all across the country. Please consider making a donation today to support all our efforts to save animals’ lives. Thank you.

November 12th, 2018 4:00 PM ET

At the request of the Worth County Sheriff’s Office, the ASPCA is assisting with evidence collection, transport and the sheltering of nearly 170 dogs from an inhumane commercial breeding facility often referred to as a “puppy mill” in Worth County.

A search warrant was executed on Monday where investigators discovered hundreds of dogs, all Samoyeds, living in appalling and overcrowded conditions with no access to clean water. Many of the dogs were found in filthy dilapidated kennels in below freezing temperatures with minimal protection from the elements. There was debris scattered throughout the property as responders worked to safely remove fearful and undersocialized dogs. A few cats were also found inside the residence exhibiting signs of neglect.

“We have tried to work with the individual in addressing the growing concerns about the welfare of her animals over the past several months and unfortunately met resistance,” said Sheriff Dan Fank with the Worth County Sheriff’s Office. “This is a large-scale breeding operation involving many animals, and we asked the ASPCA and their affiliates for assistance in removing them from the property and ensuring that they get much-needed care and treatment as we continue our investigation.”

The investigation was set into motion by the Sheriff’s Office several months ago when local animal welfare groups became aware of the breeder’s inability to properly care for her animals and alerted local authorities to investigate the matter. The breeder was previously licensed through the USDA, despite failing to provide animals with adequate veterinary care, food, clean water and sheltering.

“Many commercial breeding operations prioritize profit over the well-being of the animals, often producing puppies that suffer from health and behavioral problems,” added Tim Rickey, Vice President of ASPCA Field Investigations and Response. “Thanks to local animal welfare groups for raising their concerns and the Sheriff’s Office for taking swift action in launching an investigation, we were able to support the case by providing expertise and resources to remove these dogs from this heartbreaking situation.”

We are currently transporting these animals to a temporary shelter where they will receive ongoing daily care until custody is determined by the court. Once medical exams are conducted, behavior experts with the ASPCA Anti-Cruelty Behavior team will be evaluating each dog and implementing enrichment protocols at the temporary shelter.

Animal neglect charges against the individual who’d been keeping these animals are pending based on evidence collected by our experts. The ASPCA Legal Advocacy department will continue to work closely with local law enforcement and prosecutors to ensure the best outcome for these animals.

Over the years, we have worked to rescue countless dogs from puppy mills across the nation and have been active in promoting legislation at both the state and federal levels to strengthen regulations and improve oversight of the standards of care of dogs in commercial breeding facilities. Dogs at these facilities are often kept in crowded, unsanitary conditions without adequate access to veterinary care, food, water or socialization. Our Barred From Love campaign urges the public to speak out against cruel breeding and also encourages dog lovers to adopt from a local shelter or rescue group, or learn how to identify a responsible breeder.

With your support we can continue to rescue, protect and care for dogs affected by cruel breeding and work to put an end to these practices. A donation today can help make a difference for abused, neglected or abandoned animals across the nation. Please consider making a lifesaving gift.   

The following agencies are currently supporting ASPCA responders in the field and with our sheltering operation: Animal Rescue League of Iowa; Companion Animal Practices North America; Dubuque Regional Humane Society; Humane Society of North Iowa; Humane Society of Scott County; Nebraska Humane Society; Veterinary Centers of America (VCA); and Wichita Animal Action League.