Latest dog tale should prompt action

I'm proud to say I was brought up in the great state of Iowa but an article in The Gazette on Nov. 11 really was upsetting. The article was about 170 dogs that had been rescued from a puppy mill in Manly, located in Worth County.

The poor dogs had been kept in filthy, dilapidated kennels in below freezing temperatures with minimal protection from the weather. Some dogs needed medical attention, some kennels had no food or water, and several dogs were kept in one kennel intended for a single dog. Iowa was listed as the third worst regarding puppy mills, just behind Missouri and Ohio.

I give a lot of credit to veterinarians and organizations, like the ASPCA, for saving these animals, and seeking out the people running these puppy mills to hold them accountable for the horrible conditions.

We know children look to us for love and protection; animals need the same. Let's hope that in the future our legislators can introduce a bill to force puppy mills out of service.

Sharon Ullrick

Cedar Rapids