65 dogs and puppies were rescued Tuesday (4/19) from a property near Hedrick.  The Animal Rescue League of Iowa was alerted by law enforcement about the animals being moved from a puppy mill in Florida to Keokuk County.  Joe Stafford, director of animal services for the Animal Rescue League of Iowa, describes the scene as “horrible.”

 “A lot of the animals are thin, underweight.  They have various skin issues, dental issues.  They all appear to have a very heavy parasite load of hookworms, and whipworms and different parasites that dogs have when they’re left untreated.”

Stafford described one of the dogs that was rescued as missing its lower leg and foot and that the amputation did not appear to have been done by a veterinarian.

Stafford says it will take some time for the dogs to recover so they can be adopted.  The Keokuk County Sheriff’s Office’s investigation into this matter is ongoing.