OUR MISSION STATEMENT
To Be A Safe Haven For Lost, Unwanted, Needy Dogs
To Educate The Public About Responsible Pet Care
To Find Forever Homes For All Of Our TLC Canines
To Encourage Greater Levels Of Respect, Responsibility, And Compassion
Toward Both The Humans And Animals With Whom We Come In Contact.

THE REASON THE TLC CANINE CENTER EXISTS

The TLC Canine Center is a shelter for homeless and abused dogs in the Midwest. The main physical shelter is based in Newell, Iowa, and is a small facility with space for about 24 dogs, so there is never enough room for all the dogs needing care. Because of a lack of commitment connected with pet ownership, and sometimes legitimate circumstances, there are far too many homeless, abused, or neglected dogs.

TLC Canine Center is a registered 501(c)(3), nonprofit shelter for dogs. We are entirely volunteer based, with no paid employees! We are thankful for the many organizations and individuals that support us. Without them, we could not survive! We are always in need of financial support to help with the day to day care of the animals and the vet bills which never end. The initial cost of most dogs brought to the shelter is at least $150. This includes necessary shots, treatment for parasites, neutering or spaying, and any other needed care. Often there are additional medical bills as we determine the specific problems of the individual animal. The TLC is also responsible for the expenses for the TLC dogs that are in foster homes.

The TLC Canine Centers are always busy. Someone spends at least 5 hours a day at the Newell Center, working directly with the dogs, and most evenings are spent returning phone calls, updating records, and doing general book work. Faithful organizations and individuals help; Buena Vista University students and instructors, as well as area high school students, walk dogs whenever they can. Committed adult workers do whatever needs to be done. We receive many calls requesting that we take a dog—either a person’s own dog which for some reason he/she has to relinquish, a stray that has been left on his own or dogs rescued from puppy mills. Our criteria for accepting a dog is NEED. We do not discriminate by breed, age, or health. There is always a waiting list, so we work with a network of other shelters and rescue groups that are willing to help if they have room. Sometimes a dog is at the TLC for a few days, sometimes for a week, and sometimes for months. If a dog has been abused, it takes a lot of patience, effort, and love to rehabilitate him! There is no time limit on how long the TLC keeps a dog. Several badly abused dogs lived at the TLC for more than a year before we found them loving, forever caregivers. A few live out their entire lives at the TLC or a TLC sponsored home.

Potential adopters are screened very carefully because we want the relationship to work, both for the sake of the people and for the sake of the dog. An adoption agreement must be signed regarding proper care of the animal, and we send the dog on a temporary basis (an overnight, or a weekender) to see how the dog and the humans get along. Usually the relationship works; if not, we gladly bring the dog back at the shelter. Our goal is to successfully match every TLC dog with a forever family. Last year we re-homed more than two hundred dogs, with fewer than a dozen returned to the shelter.

Everyone works hard at the TLC. We often become discouraged, because of the continual need for financial assistance and more volunteers! We would welcome your involvement as we work together to make the world a safer, healthier, happier place for needy dogs.

Compassion… kindness… gentleness… and patience… toward humans and needy dogs everywhere!

THE TLC CANINE CENTER: BOX 373, NEWELL, IOWA 50568 – www.tlccaninecenter.org – plarsen@rconnect.com

Our Adoptables:

We always have needy dogs awaiting adoption. If you’re interested in one of our pups, please contact us for more information on the adoption process.