Occasionally I will hear the comment from a person that says they only support "people charities". While the charities they are referring to are certainly worthwhile, I am always struck by this because it assumes we only help animals. Though animals are the basis for our non-profit work, there is invariably at least one person, often several, involved with each of the tens of thousands of animals we help each year.

To that point, I am reminded of Charity and Hammy. Charity found herself in an abusive relationship and like many of us know, the love of her adopted dog Hammy during this stressful time in her life became the focus. When the abusive boyfriend tracked Charity to three different states, she found Des Moines with a new identity, a new life, and no old friends or family - just herself and Hammy.

Hammy

But money was tight and she was unable to afford dog-friendly housing yet she knew she could not surrender her friend and lifeline, Hammy. Fortunately, she found the Animal Rescue League of Iowa  and our Crisis Foster program which provided care for Hammy during the few weeks it took Charity to find work and a place she could afford that accepted Hammy.

Reunited, Charity and Hammy are happily living together again, far away from abuse and fear. I think you will agree that a person and a pet were helped.

Charity & Hammy

Animal Control Officers are often unsung heroes who perform monumental acts of kindness and public service every day. The ARL's Animal Control Officers are certainly no exception and on a wintery day in November, several people and a dog named Bandit were glad that Officer Tina was on the job.

Bandit

Imagine hearing a dog yelping in your neighbor's backyard - only to know they don't have a dog - then to find one struggling to stay afloat in the freezing cold water of their in-ground swimming pool. Animal Control was quickly dispatched to the address where concerned neighbors were feeling helpless and dreading what would happen if poor Bandit wasn't rescued soon.