I have seen some really creative ways to run a dryer vent. We all know the dryer vent must discharge outdoors... right? Not into the garage, another room, the attic, it must be outdoors! Why?
One of the most important functions of a dryer is the elimination of moisture recovered during the heating of damp clothing. A typical 12-pound load of laundry can weigh as much as 20-pounds when first removed from a washer. The extra 8-pounds is water. Water weighs just over 8 lbs a gallon, so a gallon of water!
That recovered moisture is held as humidity and can also condense into pools of water inside the dryer venting, possibly leaking out. Heat is another important function of a dryer. Many current dryer models have 'one time', non-resettable, thermal fuse or safety. These safety devices will open should the dryer overheat due to improperly installed venting or it becomes restricted. Once this happens, the dryer will no longer heat at all and will require the failed part to be replaced to correct the condition. On some dryer designs (usually electric) failure of a thermal fuse will totally stop dryer operation altogether.
On older models without one of these thermal safeties, poor venting can cause the dryer to cycle on its safety thermostat instead of its temperature control thermostat. This can cause overheating, usually contributes to poor drying and possibly retarded timer movement on automatic cycles. Poor or obstructed venting can also cause the dryer's external cabinet or control area to get hotter than usual. Without proper air flow through the dryer the thermostats may not cycle the heater to maintain proper temperature. The heat created by the heater has to go somewhere, that is usually to the cabinet. This is a sign of a very dangerous condition! Operation of the appliance should be discontinued and possibly even unplugged until it can be corrected.
I ran into this one the other day. The owners decided they wanted to use the laundry room as a utility room and relocated the washer and dryer into the kitchen.... yes, the kitchen! So, 
they ran the dryer duct through the kitchen wall, through the utility room, which was the original laundry room to the vent on the exterior wall. They used one of those flexible foil type ducts.
Flexible ducts should not pass through walls, they are meant to be a connection from the dryer to the vent pipe, but not that long! In all cases the longest possible working vent should be made of rigid metal vent material with a large mouth or louvered outdoor hood. Flexible metal ducting although a bit easier to work with causes reduced air flow due to its 
corrugated design and will contribute to a lint buildup in the ducting over time. Flexible
Nylon ducting is no longer approved in most areas for dryer venting due to the possibility of a fire hazard and has never been approved for use on gas dryers. In the US and Canada, all gas dryers must be vented directly to the outdoors by law!
Dryer duct/vent fires are the number one reason for home fires! 
Over the last 15 years, we averaged over 14,500 dryer fires, per year!!
Your dryer duct and vent should be cleaned annually at the very least, if not semi-annually. And, the flexible duct that connects the dryer to the vent should be replaced as well.
This one needs to be repaired, I recommended the buyer put the washer/dryer back into the laundry room as intended.
Builders build laundry rooms to specifications and best building practices for a reason... don't play with fire!
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Those rodent screens are ok, but you gotta check them! They are easy to pop that screen off and clean too! You probably saved her life, that sounds hot!! 
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