In late 2025, Ottumwa police responded to a tip reporting two dogs allegedly suffering from severe neglect and extreme malnourishment at a local property. What officers found was devastating. One dog, Delilah, a Brittany Spaniel, was already dead. The second dog, Native, a German Shepherd, was barely alive. Authorities later confirmed Delilah had been starved to death, with no remaining fat around her organs.
Delilah’s remains were discovered buried in the yard, and a necropsy confirmed malnutrition as the cause of death. Native survived, but not without lasting harm. Due to prolonged starvation, Native suffered permanent damage to the heart muscles and will never fully recover. This was not an accident. It was prolonged neglect that caused immense suffering…