and in case the story disappears
Shelby Duis...the little girl mentioned in the article...she was 2 when she finally left this earth...with a diaper that had not been changed in who knows how long...massive bruises so deep on her head they went through the skull plate...both hands broken...6 ribs broken...and that was just the current injuries at the time of her death...Caring For Canines
You won't find any cat-nip here, this old hog confinement turned shelter, is just for unwanted dogs. Pauline Larsen, along with a friend, opened the TLC Canine Center in Newell, Iowa, catering to discarded dogs like Eddie.
Pauline Larsen, "He belonged to a lady who went to assisted living and there was no place that loved him so he came here."
This Jack Russel Terrier is just one of 24 dogs up for adoption at TLC right now. At this non-profit shelter there's no time limit, they stay as long as it takes.
Larsen, "We don't put them down simply because they're old or because they're sick."
In the last 10 years of operation, Larsen has adopted out hundreds of dogs all over the US, and she's only had to put down 4.
Larsen, "You can rehabilitate, sometimes it just takes time. And a lot of the larger facilities don't have the time because they have so many strays."
A few years ago, Larsen took in a dog belonging to Shelby Duis, a Spirit Lake, Iowa toddler who died after weeks of abuse, her dog suffered the same treatment.
Larsen, "Their dog came here and the vet said he was the most abused dog they had ever seen. He was so crammed in a tiny little cage that he had since he was a baby, he was bald. His throat was almost shut because of the collar that had never been made larger. The vet recommended that we put him down but I looked in Baxter's eyes and couldn't do it."
And that's why most of the dogs go on to find good homes. All of the work here is done by volunteers.
Larsen, "But there is no money involved, and I think it has to be a love of animals for it to work."
With little houses instead of cages, and plenty of opportunity to socialize, these dogs often find a new home with an easy transition.
her meth addicted mom was charged with "child endangerment" and is s erving 50 years ...her mom's boyfriend was acquitted...
