PHOENIX — Animal rescuers Kimberly Elliott and Sonia Venecia didn't know what they were in for when they left two special needs dogs, Butters and Checo, in the care of April McLaughlin.
McLaughlin had been running a foster care operation for dogs with special needs, local rescue groups said. But what waited inside her Chandler home was a dog owner's worst nightmare.
McLaughlin's home was raided by Chandler Police in September after it was learned that she'd been hoarding more than 50 dogs, forcing the animals to live in deplorable conditions. After a brief struggle in court, the dogs are being reunited with their owners.
On Thursday Elliott and Venecia, both founders of animal rescue groups, were able to see Butters and Checo.
"I feel relieved that he is no longer confused or scared," Elliott said.
Butters is partially paralyzed and was wheeled out by workers with the Arizona Humane Society. Both Elliott and Venecia couldn't help but cry when they saw him.
Even though Butters was smiling in his "cone of shame," he looked so different from when they last saw him.
"[Butters] is so skinny right now it breaks my heart," Elliott said.
Butters, Checo, and 58 others were McLaughlin's home and living in horrible conditions. Chandler Police said five of the dogs were found dead in a freezer.
The remaining animals were rescued and taken to the Arizona Humane Society for treatment. Unfortunately, some had to be euthanized,.
"These dogs came in in very, very poor condition," said Doctor Steven Hansen, the president and CEO of the Humane Society. "They still have a long ways to go, but they're clean, their wounds are starting to heal."
Mclaughlin who has several aliases including Sydney McKinnley was in court Wednesday asking to have 13 dogs returned to her, but the Chandler city judge denied her request. The judge determined that the dogs were in "unacceptable" conditions.
McLaughlin initially petitioned to get back all 47 living dogs that were seized by police but later narrowed down her request to only 13 dogs that she said had been under her care for many years.
Now, some of the dogs are starting to be returned to their owners or other rescue groups. Hansen said they are now working on reuniting 34 dogs that were taken from the home.
"There'll be many more reunions over the next few days," Hansen said.
"I'm just so overcome with emotion, knowing that each and every dog will soon be getting that compassionate care," Elliott said.
However, the 13 dogs involved in the court proceedings will have to remain for now. McLaughlin has two weeks to appeal the judge's decision. Hansen expects that will happen.
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