Save Pinky, a Gentle Dog, Severely Confined at the Animal Rescue league of Iowa Animal Shelter

We seek justice in the treatment of PINKY, 

a mixed-breed gentle family dog, who has been severely confined at  the Animal Rescue League of Iowa since March 2016 in their locked backroom.

* She has never been allowed visits by the owner or the owner's attorney.

* NO ONE knows how she is doing.

* This is physically and mentally cruel

Conditions are so severe in that she does not get any exercise and has never been allowed to be seen by her owner or the attorney representing the owner. People can hear her crying down the hall but the backroom is off limits to everyone. An ARL animal control officer testified in district court those dogs are NEVER exercised.  Only under public pressure did they release a "staged" video of her after one year in solitary confinement.

       *** it's now almost 2 YEARS***

Pinky grew up as a loved family member, she was always gentle with everyone as well as a cat in the household. When she was 6 yrs old, a friend opened the door and she darted out. She and a cat got into a spat. They both had injuries and both are fine. No one knows how it happened or how it started. An expert trainer testified she was not acting viciously. 

Long-time confinement is inhumane.  Studies prove that dogs are social animals and find that separation from human interaction leaves them chronically stressed.
They resort to repetitive behaviors such as spinning, bouncing off walls -- similar to zoochosis. This treatment is counter-productive to "keeping dogs safe" as ARL has stated.  Instead it is physically and mentally damaging to Pinky.  Most age quickly and suffer from arthritis and severe anxiety from being caged.

Her current condition is also unknown - since March 2016. The Chief Humane Officer stated at the September hearing that he has not seen Pinky.

Many other dogs have bitten humans, killed other animals, and have shown vicious propensities -- and have been released and even adopted out. Many owners have been able to see their dogs in "isolation" in their backroom and have had them released. 

• We want to see Pinky. 
• We want her to receive humane treatment. 
• We want to have a vet of our choice see her regularly.
• We want her released immediately!        

Allow taxpayer monies to go to true animal advocacy efforts instead of funding efforts to put her down.  She is a gentle animal.

FACTS:

1. Pinky has NEVER killed an animal --
2. never bitten a human --
3. never bitten a dog --
4. never shown any vicious propensities...always sweet.

There is currently NO LAW preventing ARL from allowing the owner or attorney to check in on PINKY -- requests are repeatedly denied.  Reasons given in court was it was a burden for ARL employees.

There are at other dogs that have been in this same situation in this backroom with no suitable sunlight, visitation, or exercise -- they do not even leave the cage to clean it -- Diesel and Malice have been there a year or more. (Malice recently released after 2 years and suffers from medical problems and severe anxiety).

The ARL says the city is responsible for Pinky's incarceration...yet they manage and operate the city's Animal Control by their contract. The ARL employees were the ones who seized Pinky and wrote a report that left out facts and lacked basic investigation into the events that could have been dispelled had they interviewed both owners.  

The city must represent ARL since they are not city employees.

The city contract absolves the Animal Rescue League of legal responsibility.  This is how the ARL can state, "They are not a party to the case" - when in fact - it was their deeds who placed Pinky into this situation.

Pinky's owner has spent enormous amounts of money to try and save Pinky from this situation -- while the ARL Animal Control uses city attorneys and taxpayer funds for these countless legal proceedings.

The city attorney representing ARL animal control, recently noticed Pinky's owner to pay thousands for boarding Pinky in solitary confinement -- the very thing she is fighting -- for her release!

Countless dogs have died as a result as many owners cannot afford legal costs. As of Dec. 2017, those costs are $10,000.  The ARL will get paid regardless of how the case ends as the city will pay them.

If we allow this to continue, it can happen to any dog.

PINKY deserves to live -- she is a good girl.

She is FAMILY and belongs with those that love her.

Lives have been devestated while PINKY suffers.

EATING --SLEEPING--SOILING in the same place for 

a year and a half -- never been seen since March 2016.

This is extremely cruel and inhumane.

******UPDATED*****

APRIL 16TH, 2018 ---PINKY WAS RELEASED TEMPORARILY TO HER NEW OWNER FOR THE INTERIM OF THIS COURT BATTLE.  

The Iowa Court of Appeals ruled in favor of PINKY -- but the City of Des Moines, Iowa,-- has filed an appeal to the IOWA SUPREME COURT!

We wait to hear if the Supreme Court will hear it.

The city has made the condition that -- if the City wins their appeal in the Iowa Supreme Court -- THEY WILL TAKE PINKY BACK --AND THEY WILL GIVE OWNERSHIP TO THE ANIMAL RESCUE LEAGUE OF IOWA!

**THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE**

Please contact the City of Des Moines, Iowa, city council and SHARE THE TRUTH.  Pinky has been given to her new owner, Dianna, where Pinky is with now in the country - feeling grass, sunshine, love, and healing from 2 years in confinement.

Pinky's previous owner, who grew up with Pinky, and loves her, will have the ability to visit Pinky when he wishes.

PINKY IS FAMILY & SHE IS LOVED.

SHE IS A GENTLE AND LOVING DOG.

DO NOT ALLOW FOR ANYTHING ELSE TO HAPPEN.

See the Facebook Page:  "Save Pinky's Life" for copies of court documents and proceedings.