Animal-welfare advocates are calling for a criminal investigation of the Boone County breeder who surrendered 93 dogs last week.
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18 dogs seized from a Northern Iowa puppy mill were taken to Omaha, where they were to be adopted out to new owners.
More than 300 Samoyeds were seized from an Iowa puppy mill in 2018. Where are they now?
gus (williams)
Gus
Now at home in Iowa, adopted from the Cedar Bend Humane Society in Waterloo.
Gus was so frightened that he wouldn't come out of his crate when he first arrived at his new home. His owners recall that he cowered there for 30 to 45 minutes before their senior Samoyed came into the garage and coaxed him out.
"It was heartwarming, as if a switch flipped. He came out, wagging his tail and excited to meet her.”
He was 5 months old and one of the first of nine Samoyeds rescued in the raid and sent to CBHS to find his forever home. From the moment he met Olivia, he was out of his shell.
After losing Olivia, the family adopted another Samoyed -- William -- for Gus to pal around with and wrestle in the yard. They're known for getting "a case of the zoomies."
The owner describes Gus as a “love bug” who gets along with the family’s three rescue cats, enjoys cuddling, belly scratches and playing with toys.
“I believe it was meant to be. They’re both daddy’s boys, but Gus will keep his head against my thigh when I walk out in the yard. We have a connection.”
Finley
FINLEY
Born Dec. 12, 2018, in a litter from Samoyed rescue Luna
Now in a home in Iowa, adopted through Cedar Bend Humane Society Waterloo, Iowa.
Caitlyn is the administration and intake supervisor at CBHS. She fostered Luna and puppies in her home until they were all ready for adoption. She fell in love with Finley, the runt of the litter. Caitlyn says he's "the goofiest dog ever." Although he tends to be anxious, he is a loving dog who enjoys playing, especially outdoors, and carries small cat toys around in his mouth. He's a picky eater who demands his mom change his food every so often. "He keeps me on my toes. He's a mama's boy, and I love him."
izzy with water bowl.jpg
Izzy
Now at home in California, adopted through the Samoyed Rescue of Southern California.
Izzy’s adopter was a volunteer for SRSC when she instantly bonded with a newly arrived puppy rescued from White Fire Kennel in Iowa, part of a batch of Samoyeds sent to the California group to find loving homes. “When Izzy Bella’s and my eyes met for the first time, something clicked inside each of us that instantly bonded us to one another.
My family already had a wonderful Sammy and I had absolutely zero inclination to bring another one into our home until that moment, a moment I will never forget. I whisked this 18-pound ball of fluff with her pleading eyes into my arms and took her to live with us in her forever home.”
On their first walk together in her new home, her adopter was in awe at her innocence and playfulness -- and fear. In ways, she was a normal, playful puppy getting into mischief, loving her new sister, happily exploring her new home and playing with other local Iowa dogs at dog park play dates.
But she was dreadfully fearful. “I was, and still am, the only person she trusts. It took two years before she started going to my husband and letting him pet her. Now, 3 1/2 years later, she occasionally lets four other people gently touch her head. That’s all. Housebreaking was tough. Her indoor “fear-poops” continued for 1 1/2 years.
“At first, her fear just caused her to cower, back away and hide. Gradually, it evolved into more aggressive behavior. She began fighting with her dog park pals and lunging, barking and snapping at other dogs, the people walking their dogs, joggers, bicyclers, skateboarders, motorcyclists and vehicles. I tried all sorts of training methods to no avail.
“Finally, one trainer made perfect sense. He said it was nuts to keep taking a dog like Izzy into situations that scared her when she was perfectly happy and at peace with lots of room to exercise at home. He said to just stop trying to desensitize her by exposing her to uncomfortable situations because that was actually like torturing her.”
They changed their lifestyle immediately. Izzy is now content being with her mom 24/7. “I love her to pieces and am thrilled to have a dog who is this strongly bonded to me and who is so pleased and excited to be with me. I call her my Jackpot.
“Still, it pains me to realize that her White Fire scars run so deep and haven’t healed yet. Every day, she nuzzles up to her water bowl, like it’s a comforting treasure to her, and I can’t help but wonder if that’s because the water buckets during her first month of life in the dead of Iowa’s winter were frozen.”
Izzy loves to chase varmints in the yard, play ball, go for rides and get rubs. She’s healthy, smart and can do tricks. “But she can switch into her fearful self in a flash. We call it her ‘default mode’ and have resigned ourselves to the reality that this may never change.
