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Rescues from unlicensed breeders are crowding Iowa's animal shelters

River to River, hosted by Ben Kieffer

Iowa dog shelters are at their highest capacity in more than five years.

On this episode of River to River, host Ben Kieffer talks with Joe Stafford of the Animal Rescue League of Iowa about the causes of overcrowded shelters and this year's increase in euthanized dogs, which are only done for animals who are dangerous or suffering.

As the recent seizure of 131 dogs at a rural Johnson County breeding operation prompted state lawmaker Dave Jacoby of Coralville to call Governor Kim Reynolds for a bipartisan response, Nancy Magnusson of the Iowa Pet Breeders Association weighs in on how some breeders are operating outside federal law.

Guests:

  • Joe Stafford, director of animal services, Animal Rescue League of Iowa
  • Nancy Magnusson, board member and former president, Iowa Pet Breeders Association
Ben Kieffer is the host of IPR's River to River
Samantha McIntosh is a talk show producer at Iowa Public Radio. Prior to IPR, Samantha worked as a reporter for radio stations in southeast and west central Iowa under M&H Broadcasting, and before that she was a weekend music host for GO 96.3 in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Caitlin Troutman is a talk show producer at Iowa Public Radio