Dog News

Animal Torture & Neglect Charges Filed Against Dog Rescue Director

by Amy Drew

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She was supposed to be a “rescuer,” but the charges now filed against her allege “monster” would be more fitting.

On Wednesday, officials began an investigation regarding deceased dogs found on a property in Sandyvillem IA. Two deceased dogs were found on the property on Wednesday. The following day, police discovered 19 additional dogs, and another deceased dog, at two properties in the town of Indianola.

The dogs are now in the care of the Animal Rescue League of Iowa.

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Several of the dogs were matted beyond belief. One dog, which weighed only 14 pounds, had more than 4 pounds of hair sheared off him. Photo: ARL of Iowa

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Lindsay Morrow has been charged with ongoing criminal conduct, second degree theft, second degree fraudulent practice, five counts of animal torture, aggravated misdemeanors (aggravated misdemeanors), five counts of animal neglect (a serious misdemeanor), and 17 counts of animal neglect (a simple misdemeanor).

The ARL says Morrow was the director of a non-kill volunteer shelter called “Bully Breed Miracle Network and Rescue.”

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The dogs were living in their own filth. Some were surviving by ingesting it. Photo: ARL of Iowa

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“We see neglect in all forms, but this really hits home when we learned about this because people were giving dogs to her with that understanding that she was going to take them in and give them good homes; so when this all kind of unveiled itself it’s really tough to understand what happened” ARL Animal Control Services Manager Josh Colvin told WHO.

Warren County police say Morrow has not yet been arrested.

Colvin says the 19 dogs are now in the recovery process.

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Now recovering, the ARL hopes the animals will eventually go on to happy, loving homes. Photo: ARL of Iowa

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Their condition includes malnourishment and urine burns among other things. Colvin says ARL staff are slowly introducing normal food back into the dog’s diets; he says many of them sustained themselves by eating their own feces.

The ARL hopes with time the dogs will be rehabilitated and ready for adoption.