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Nearly 200 Domestic, Farm Animals Rescued

Robin Wallace

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February 13, 2008

APACHE JUNCTION, AZ – Responding to a tip, Arizona police found 185 animals being kept in abusive conditions.

Unlike typical hoarding cases, this involved seven different species and various breeds being rescued from a rural property near Apache Junction.

Authorities found 96 rabbits, 47 dogs, chickens, pigs, goats, horses, an African gray parrot and a cockatiel.

Commander Jay Swart of the Apache Junction Police Department said some of the animals were in pretty significant distress.

As of right now, none of the rescues are available for adoption. While some of the animals are still being evaluated, two have been euthanized. It is possible that one horse will also be put down.

A search warrant was served by police to the owners, who watched the animals being taken away. They declined to comment and the police did not identify them.

The police department’s forensic team is collecting evidence. Once the investigation is complete, the department will review the case with the county attorney. Depending on the findings, the owners could face animal abuse charges.

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oldmaidcatwoman
oldmaidcatwoman
5 months ago
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I hope all the animals were placed in good homes and that the people got the help that they must need.
 
ktldun
ktldun
8 months ago
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What was the outcome ?????
 
DEREKDEMANE
DEREKDEMANE
8 months ago
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It would be great if zootoo could update us on some of these stories.
 
Nikole M.
Nikole M. (12nmetz)
8 months ago
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great job for taking care of all those animals im sure that they all appreciate it go people who love animals
 
Marty T.
Marty T. (MTrezza)
10 months ago
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Since this was so long ago, what happened?
 
alexis93
alexis93
1 year ago
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sad
 
brock l.
brock l. (Brock212)
1 year ago
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The owner "could" face animal abuse charges? What about the owner should and will. I don't get how there could be any doubt the owner was the cause for this pain and suffering.
 
mypugglerocks
mypugglerocks
1 year ago
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what a bad situation
 
hymcheng
hymcheng
1 year ago
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I'd love an update. Are all of the animals now available for adoption? I certainly hope they will find good homes after such a harrowing experience.
 
chris a.
chris a. (carmstrong84)
1 year ago
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awesome
 
Gina G.
Gina G. (gibs7usa)
1 year ago
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what drives people to this? i guess i really have trouble understanding hoarders and how they can so love animals yet cause so much harm.
 
LoriHill123
LoriHill123
1 year ago
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Amazing 185 animals
 
Sue K.
Sue K. (skasson)
1 year ago
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I hope the abusers are charged with animal cruelty. Let these animal abusers serve their time in a prison similar to the one they kept these poor helpless animals in.
 
Sarah B.
Sarah B. (sbutler1976)
1 year ago
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They could be charged with animal abuse? There is NO could be. The owners/abusers should be charged with animal abuse, neglect, hoarding, not properly liscencing the animals. Any & all laws out there in AZ should be thrown @ these people. They deserve what they have coming. I really think the judge should give it to them good.
 
Barbara K.
Barbara K. (Ishbish)
1 year ago
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I'm glad someone reported the abuse!
 
Cindy M.
Cindy M. (krazykritter12)
1 year ago
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I'm so sick of hearing about abuse /neglect attached to love for an animal.
 
Lana S.
Lana S. (critterfriend)
1 year ago
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Why do people do this? Do they feel they are doing the animals a favor? If you can't care for them properly, why keep getting more?
 
Brad J.
Brad J. (BradJohnston)
1 year ago
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Could, NO NO NO, They Should face animal abuse charges among other charges. Why would they not?
 
hmdi
hmdi
1 year ago
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Put them in jail - and people, call anytime you see or know anything! This kind of thing has to be stopped - and our calls are going to keep stopping it!
 
Adriana C.
Adriana C. (AdrianaLMST)
1 year ago
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This is so sad. And it's horrible how often I hear stories like this. =[
 
jill l.
jill l. (JillLong)
1 year ago
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This is terrible. How can people treat animals in this way? I hope they will face maximum charges.
 
FruitLoopLucy
FruitLoopLucy
1 year ago
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People should be jailed. Then they might wake up and stop this.
 
Tanya F.
Tanya F. (tfronczek)
1 year ago
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Why do people keep doing this? At some point they should realize there are too many animals and start doing something about it. The welfare of the animals is the important part.
 
Brigit800
Brigit800
1 year ago
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That's a lot of animals. What would make someone who didn't care enough to give proper care even want that many?
 
LoriHill123
LoriHill123
1 year ago
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good question
 
Janie
Janie (wildlifephotomom)
1 year ago
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Thank heaven someone put out the tip-that is the real hero in this story. I am sure glad they followed up on this. I hope they find good homes for all the animals.
 
Jill6Johnson
Jill6Johnson
1 year ago
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How sad, I hope the animals find homes. I cannot believe people can be so irresponsible
 
Tracee G.
Tracee G. (tracee)
1 year ago
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what a sad story
 
Jamie M.
Jamie M. (jamiedee)
1 year ago
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What is really sad in these cases is the fact that so often these owners start out trying to do a good thing but then they just don't have the means to continue to maintain the animals and without proper medical care things get out of control. So sad for all involved.
 
greenkitty44
greenkitty44
1 year ago
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WOW! How can you collect dozens of neglected animals and not be sure if the guy should be held responsible or not?
 
Adaira R.
Adaira R. (auntadaira)
1 year ago
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Is the penalty for abusing a farm animal any less than that of a domestic animal? I don't know how it could possibly be less until you hit them with a wet noodle, but I was just curious. Humans are the worst sometimes.
 
iseeurn
iseeurn
1 year ago
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if u can't care for them take time to find someone who can
 
V G.
V G. (farmwife)
1 year ago
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I just don't understand why people don't find new homes for animals if they can't take care of them. They could contact the animal groups before the animals get in such bad shape.
 
Kevin C.
Kevin C. (kdcochran)
1 year ago
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Thats a lot of animals, so sad. I am glad they were rescued.
 
Bfyorkies
Bfyorkies
1 year ago
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I can see where you would want alot of animals I would love a bunch!! But you have to know when to say when. If you cant afford to feed and take care of them then you have tooo many
 
NTGuru
NTGuru
1 year ago
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Thats a lot of animals to care for. If you have animals regardless of how many you need to be able to care properly for each and every one of them or get rid of them.
 
Sarah M.
Sarah M. (maxscout)
1 year ago
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Very sad. Hopefully the animals can find a loving place to live out the rest of their lives.
 
PennyOnTheFloor
PennyOnTheFloor
1 year ago
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So sad.
 
Ustice101
Ustice101
1 year ago
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animals go through so much horrible things
 
Hughie
Hughie
1 year ago
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What a sad story. I hope most of the animals can recover and find homes. The owners should be punished for letting the condition of these animals deteriorate to such an extent. That definitely is animal abuse.
 
hymcheng
hymcheng
1 year ago
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I agree it's really sad to hear cases like this. What I don't understand is why this doesn't constitute as hoarding. With 90+ animals, I think the term should be applied here.
 
beth P.
beth P. (petersonpets)
1 year ago
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<span>this comment has been removed from the system</span>
 
Linda W.
Linda W. (lillybutt)
1 year ago
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How sad, I hope it wasn't a case of, the owners got to old to care for the animals. That does happen.
 
Alice W.
Alice W. (mapleann)
1 year ago
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How Sad. Poor babies
 
Jamie
Jamie (Sadiesmygirl)
1 year ago
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I am glad that these animals are now out of those horrid conditions and are going to be taken care of. Hopefully they all will make it back to good health and find forever homes with loving families.
 
Mary G.
Mary G. (Norton)
1 year ago
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There are hoarders and then there are hoarders. Some good and caring folks just begin by collecting an animal here an animal there and before long the situation is out of control. These people may try their best to feed and care for their horde, but far too often it becomes an insurmountable and impossible task. This story is quite different in that it involves seven different species of animals. Details are rather sketchy, but pointing out that none of the rescused animals are ready for adoption and that two already had to be "put down" speaks to neglect and abuse.
 
cat100
cat100
1 year ago
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I wonder if regulations would help
 
LoriHill123
LoriHill123
1 year ago
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I sure would hope so
 
chrissy m.
chrissy m. (chrissyyyy)
1 year ago
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its good to know someone stepped up and took care of the situation here. i hope all of them find good homes.
 
8critters
8critters
1 year ago
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I have seen abused horses, and it is the most distressing of abuse cases, I suppose because of their size. I hope they throw the book at these people, this sounds so cruel.
 
brunosmom
brunosmom
1 year ago
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185 animals....wow!!
 
Anne M.
Anne M. (AnneM)
1 year ago
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Thank God for the whistle-blower tipster that alerted the authorities to these awful conditions. I hope these animals ALL find loving caring homes.
 
chili1zz
chili1zz
1 year ago
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why do people get in over there heads with animals do they not know what thay can take care of
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