More than two-dozen dogs are recovering from starvation, dehydration and illnesses after being discovered on abandoned farm in southwest Iowa’s Mills County. Authorities say 27 pit bulls found in a rural area near Pacific Junction had been chained to buried car axles on a tiny piece of land.
Two of the dogs reportedly had to be euthanized, but the remaining 25 dogs were being cared for at the Loess Hills Humane Society’s shelter. When they were discovered, the animals had no shelter or food and some were missing teeth. Many of the dogs had open, oozing sores, others are weak and unable to support their own weight, much less their heads, even after a week in the shelter.
Some of the dogs were missing teeth or had teeth that were filed down. Shelter Manager Kelly Nutter says that could have happened two ways. Either the dogs wore their teeth down trying to free themselves from the heavy chains or their teeth were filed down on purpose to make it harder for dogs to injure each other while mating.
No charges have been filed, but Mills County Attorney Marci McClellan said her office is still investigating the matter, and charges against the properties’ owner are possible later today. Meanwhile, housing the dogs and treating their ailments has been taxing for the new Loess Hills shelter.
The facility still needs blankets and stainless steel pails to serve as water buckets. Interested donors can contact the shelter at 712-527-0753.
By Ric Hanson, KJAN, Atlantic