Judge denies rescue owner's request for return of dogs that had muscles, bones 'exposed'
An Arizona judge denied the request from the owner of an animal rescue to have her dogs returned after they were found living in conditions the judge described as "deplorable."
lawandcrime.com
An Arizona judge denied the request from the owner of an animal rescue to have her dogs returned after they were found living in conditions the judge described as “deplorable,” including one dog who had back legs with “the muscles exposed, the tendons exposed, the bones exposed,” according to the Arizona Humane Society.
April McLaughlin, who ran the Special Needs Animal Welfare League rescue, was asking a judge during a court hearing Wednesday to have 13 of the 55 dogs seized from her home last month after they were found living in horrible conditions in her home in Chandler, around 20 miles southeast of Phoenix.
The Arizona Humane Society has been taking care of the dogs since the Sept. 22 seizure and has requested that the judge keep the dogs in the organization’s care.
A Chandler police sergeant who responded to the scene described the conditions she felt when she walked into the home.
“My eyes immediately began to water, the back of my throat started to burn. It was very difficult to breathe,” testified Sgt. Nicole Vasey, according to local NBC affiliate KPNX. “It was very difficult to breathe.”
According to an arrest affidavit, a criminal investigation began after other animal rescue groups had become concerned because McLaughlin hadn’t responded to their messages. AHS responded to the home on Sept. 9 and investigators noticed the strong odor of feces and urine coming from the home and a large cluster of flies near the front door. One of the dogs of the original complainant look much skinner than he did before.
Another dog was dragging itself on its hind legs, while a third had trouble vocalizing. AHS also noticed about 25-30 dogs inside the 956-square-foot home, some of whom needed veterinary care. None of them had water or food, the affidavit said.
The Chandler Police Department obtained a search warrant on Sept. 22. When police raided the home, they were met with the foul odor of feces and urine. The home was in such bad condition it had to be condemned, a probable cause arrest affidavit said. The ammonia levels were deemed too high to inhale so officials had to wear special equipment during the raid.
Five dead dogs were found in freezer, according to investigators.
