23 dogs abandoned in home
Gilbert, AZ (US)Incident Date: Saturday, Oct 4, 2008
County: Maricopa
Charges: Misdemeanor
Disposition: Alleged
Abuser names unreleased
Gilbert police and a group of volunteer realtors gained access to a home valued at $600,000 earlier this week and found 23 abandoned dogs.
Officers said they learned eight adult dogs had been left on their own for the past six weeks, and within the past three weeks, two of the dogs gave birth to 15 puppies.
The puppies are a mix of Golden Retriever, Chow, and Newfoundland.
Before abandoning them, the dog's owner had filled kitchen drawers with food, and left the doggie door open, so they could drink water out of the green backyard pool, police said.
Representatives from www.lostourhome.org, a group that rescues animals from foreclosed homes, said they were shocked by what they found when they went inside to rescue the animals.
"There were trash bags, debris, carpet ripped up, feces, urine everywhere," said Tina Eacret. "The smell was horrendous. We all had to wear masks and gloves. I can't even describe it to you."
Police said they have located the dog's owner, now in California, and that they are being slapped with animal cruelty charges.
Rescuers said they were unable to locate only 14 of the 15 puppies. They are presently taking applications and deposits for those animals. References |
