Dog drama in Bad Iburg
How did it get this far?
The acrid stench, the unbelievable condition of the dogs. These are images that will probably stay with our experienced animal rescuers for the rest of their lives. From the outside, the detached house in Bad Iburg looks deserted. But unimaginably cruel scenes are taking place behind the scenes.
Images of horror
Over 40 dogs were living there in catastrophic conditions. Without clean water, without enough food. The floor was covered in faeces and urine. The dogs, mainly miniature Spitz mixes, were severely neglected: matted fur, inflamed eyes and ears, ulcers all over their bodies, emaciated to the bone. Many of the animals were so desperate that they ate the faeces of their fellow dogs and drank their own urine in order to survive.
There are no words for so much cruelty. “What we have seen here beats anything we have ever experienced,” says animal rescuer Anita Hartner from Gut Aiderbichl Osnabrück.
The rescue began with a phone call
The rescue of the dogs began with a call from neighbours to the police. The Osnabrück veterinary office was immediately called in, which in turn asked Gut Aiderbichl for help. And the colleagues in Osnabrück didn’t hesitate for a second! Twenty of these dogs have now found a new home at Gut Aiderbichl Osnabrück – and thus a second chance. The others were taken to neighbouring animal shelters.
A home forever
The dogs are safe! But for the animal carers at Gut Aiderbichl Osnabrück, the real work has only just begun. The dogs’ fur, dirty and stringy, had to be removed. “Almost 6kg of fur was left behind by our new protégés,” report the dedicated animal carers. Many dogs are malnourished and their teeth are in a catastrophic condition, making it impossible to determine their age. As a result, the urgently needed dental work will begin. Neutering, umbilical hernia operations and vaccinations are also on the agenda … the list of treatments is long! But in time, the animals will recover – and we will do everything we can to ensure this.
But one question remains – and we can’t answer it: How did it get this far?
