Forty Six Dogs Missing In Rural Iowa

In Defense of Animals adds $500 to raise reward fund to $1,500

Van Meter, Iowa (May 20, 2010) – An epidemic of missing dogs in south central Iowa has many families desperately searching for their beloved companions. In Defense of Animals (IDA) today added $500 to the $1,000 reward pledged by one victimized family for information leading to the location of the missing dogs and their recovery. Fears are widespread that “bunchers,” who sell dogs for experiments, may be to blame for the disappearance of forty six dogs in rural communities covering four counties.

The disappearances began in February of this year and escalated during March and April. On April 3, Missy Fleck of Van Meter let her three dogs out to run in her yard. Her black Labrador Retriever Ozzie did not return with the two other dogs. After two weeks of intensive searching and notifying the public of Ozzie’s disappearance, Fleck hired a private investigator, who used four tracking dogs to search for Ozzie. Each dog tracked Ozzie’s scent from the front yard to the gravel road behind Fleck’s property. The scent ended at the side of the road. This confirmed what Missy had feared all along, that Ozzie was captured and driven away in a vehicle.

During Missy’s extensive search for Ozzie, which included posting the original $1,000 reward, she found she was not alone. Many nearby families were also searching for missing dogs, and many were Labrador Retrievers. Of the 46 missing dogs; 21 are labs and lab mixes. Most are medium to large in size. In Madison County, 30 dogs are missing – 13 labs and 4 lab mixes.

Some witnesses reported suspicious vehicles attempting to pick up dogs from the side of the road, and the driver of a van walking through yards, and reported the activity to the Sheriff’s department. When the deputy later questioned him, he said he gets paid $25/hour “to check things out.” He had several empty kennels in the back of his van, but since he didn’t actually have any dogs in them, the authorities did not investigate further. This was the best lead to date in this case, but because he didn’t have any dogs there was no investigation, and nobody checked to see if he had other dogs on his property or stored elsewhere.

According to Dr. Elliot Katz, IDA President, “these dogs may have ended up in the hands of ‘bunchers,’ who sell dogs to Class “B” dealers, who in turn sell them for experiments. This is a fate none of us want to think about, but it is a real possibility given the number of dogs missing, and it happens throughout the Midwest.” Missy Fleck fears this may be the fate of her Ozzie: “It’s devastating. It’s heartbreaking and it is all consuming. Every day is spent worrying and wondering. That someone would take a family member right out of your yard, is unthinkable.”

To claim the $1,500 reward for information leading to these dogs being found and retrieved, please contact the Dallas County Sheriff’s Department at (515) 993-4567. To contribute to the reward fund, please contact IDA at (415) 448-0043.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Dr. Elliot M. Katz, 415-448-0075