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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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Sharon L.
Sharon L. (SharonLinch)
1 year ago
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Glad someone stepped in to stop this awful treatment. I hope these people will never be
allowed to own another animal.
 
Lynn C.
Lynn C. (Lynn1)
1 year ago
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After reading the story, I wasn't sure if it was animal neglect, or overt animal abuse....not that both aren't terrible. So often when animals are terribly neglected, it really is a form of abuse in my opinion. Sometimes, when it is neglect, you can educate the owners....with animal abuse, punishment is usually the only course.
 
hymcheng
hymcheng
1 year ago
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Well I think animal neglect constitutes as abuse, don't you?
 
vanrigs
vanrigs
1 year ago
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why can't people just get enough animals that they can care for.
 
SandyReedy
SandyReedy
1 year ago
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is this a case of ignorance or malice? we have had hoarding cases in our small rural area, and the people think they are doing the animals a favor--and in their own twisted thinking, they love them. some people have no concept of how to care for and animal.
 
Kristina R.
Kristina R. (babykristina32)
1 year ago
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These situations are always such sad stories. They should be punished to the fullest!
 
Julie K.
Julie K. (katnipcrzy)
1 year ago
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I hope if found guilty they face a harsh penalty and in some way are able to help educate the public of how to discourage this from ever happening again. Maybe if more animal abusers did public service like drunk drivers did it would help it some small way.
 
Sharon L.
Sharon L. (SharonLinch)
1 year ago
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Public service is a good idea. Maybe they could scrub the floors of a local shelter for about a year in additon to a great big fine.
 
hymcheng
hymcheng
1 year ago
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Public service is a great idea! Maybe force them to work at the local animal shelter helping to take care of the cats and dogs.
 
Janie
Janie (wildlifephotomom)
1 year ago
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I think the owners should be locked up and allowed to live this way for some time-give them a taste of their own medicine.
 
Darbee
Darbee (magpie15301)
1 year ago
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<span>this comment has been removed from the system</span>
 
casey jo
casey jo (stark1550)
1 year ago
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some people should not be alowed to have animals
 
gottaluvleah
gottaluvleah
1 year ago
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its amazing how people have the nerve to do this :[ obviously the animals were getting some type of care but not what they deserved. these animals were starving and dehydrated.
 
Adele P.
Adele P. (Adele0724)
1 year ago
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Amazing what goes on.
 
grazboys
grazboys
1 year ago
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The owners should be sued for animal abuse. That's so sad someone would do such a thing. I wish they didn't have to kill so many animals. That's horrible!
 
Teresa K.
Teresa K. (TeresaKline)
1 year ago
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Don't know what more proof they would need.They need to be put away for a long time and never ever have another animal,kid,whatever again.
 
compassion
compassion
1 year ago
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I don't understand how the word "COULD" can be used in the same breath with "be prosecuted"! They most DEFINITELY SHOULD be prosecuted!!!
 
Theresa
Theresa (bayerminimum)
1 year ago
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Thinks like this just infuriate me. If you cannot take care of your animals for what ever reason, do them a favor and get rid of them. Give them to someone who can. I always make sure my animals eat before I eat, twice a day for the farm animals, unlimited feed for the cats and dogs. How can a person sleep at night knowing their animals are suffering.
 
Sarah M.
Sarah M. (maxscout)
1 year ago
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Cruel. I hope they punishment is severe.
 
Michelle M.
Michelle M. (mmick)
1 year ago
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Sad
 
Derek C.
Derek C. (BiggDeee)
1 year ago
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i feel terrible for the hoarding cases, people just get overwhelmed but the animals are the ones that suffer
 
peep
peep
1 year ago
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"Could face" charges....nice. What does it take??!!
 
Emylia T.
Emylia T. (Emz36)
1 year ago
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at least only a couple hadto be youthenized i hope they all get the happily ever after they now deserve
 
Shanna H.
Shanna H. (Hedke)
1 year ago
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At what point does a person loose the ability to know that they are doing more harm than good for these animals? SO very sad.
 
linda s.
linda s. (furrybabies)
1 year ago
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Let them pay
 
dawnh
dawnh
1 year ago
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Interesting!
 
Tordog1980
Tordog1980
1 year ago
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ya know this is a chemical imbalance in the brain. hopefully the people will be charged correctly. and never can own an animal again
 
Tanya b.
Tanya b. (tanya5)
1 year ago
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That is an unbelievable amount of animals to be hoarding. I am so glad the police were tipped off regarding this situation, and that the animals are now receiving the care they need. People like this need to be severely punished for their actions.
 
Margaret
Margaret (margalea)
1 year ago
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people like this are sick. my next door neighbors used to be hoarders so i know how bad things can get. They hoarded cats and trash and didnt have a litter box. We called animal welfare people and all they could do was tell them to get a litter box but the conditions were just disgusting. When we finally got them kicked out all of the dry wall had to be replaced because it was so saturated in cat urine and feces
 
Courtney
Courtney (johncenashot5)
1 year ago
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how could any one just watch their animals be unproperly taken care of.
 
Pat S.
Pat S. (PatSphar)
1 year ago
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These hoarders are a big problem and I wish more laws would address these people, ie; no more animals if found guilty, at least for some number of years.
 
linda s.
linda s. (furrybabies)
1 year ago
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I hope these people get what they deserve
 
Merrell R.
Merrell R. (mroe)
1 year ago
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These owners would do well to spend the rest of their lives serving the sentence of caring for abused and neglected animals. That would be a lesson and a service.
 
Merrell R.
Merrell R. (mroe)
1 year ago
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Thank goodness they rescued them before they were all found dead.
 
Anonymous
Anonymous
1 year ago
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MaryAnn3
MaryAnn3
1 year ago
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I really hope they're punished to the fullest extent of the law. I think they knew full well that what they were doing was wrong and that's why they declined in making any comment. I'm guessing that PETA will get involved and have activists requesting swift and just punishment.
 
Katherine F.
Katherine F. (kfell)
1 year ago
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This is so sad, the people who do these sorts of things must have something going on that doesn't let them think properly! They need serious psychiatric/psychological care.
 
emily s.
emily s. (emilia)
1 year ago
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This is so sad. I hope they are punished
 
Jim S.
Jim S. (lear08)
1 year ago
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Great outcome for th animals.
 
Jessie G.
Jessie G. (tamedtigress)
1 year ago
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I hope people will find that hoarding is a horrible illness and most of these people need psychiatric help
 
iseeurn
iseeurn
1 year ago
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Reprimand them to the fullest extent...
 
rockyoreo
rockyoreo
1 year ago
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how can you treat animals so poorly?
 
Gene M.
Gene M. (lablover60)
1 year ago
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How could the owners not be charged?
 
Tracy
Tracy (Tracy2008)
1 year ago
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I hope these people are punished for their abuse of these animals! There is no excuse for this stupidity!! Shame on them!
 
Rory H.
Rory H. (pseudoestheastro)
1 year ago
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i feel terrible for the hoarding cases, people just get overwhelmed but the animals are the ones that suffer
 
emily s.
emily s. (emilia)
1 year ago
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this is soooo sad
 
Linda
Linda (linderly)
1 year ago
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I would like to get into the heads of these hoarders. Were they that stupid to think they were helping the animals or were they on some sort of weird power trip where they held the power of life or death over these animals. Either way, this is hideous.
 
Mary M.
Mary M. (mandygirl)
1 year ago
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The owners need to be fined heavily.
 
BrigidsBlest
BrigidsBlest
1 year ago
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More hoarding. It's always tragic when this happens. There needs to be more awareness about this mental problem.
 
Jessica R.
Jessica R. (teampin1)
1 year ago
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If you can not take care of an animal then 1 you don't get more and 2 you need to give some away. People like this just get to me.
 
Ben S.
Ben S. (beno550)
1 year ago
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That is terible that someone would treat there animal so porly.
 
Jackie H.
Jackie H. (Jackie083)
1 year ago
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This disgusts me!
 
kim d.
kim d. (KDavis23)
1 year ago
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Someone needs to study why there are so many people that get to this point. I'm sure they started out just trying to help animals.

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