CHANDLER, Ariz. — The owner of an animal rescue in Chandler has been arrested after accusations that she neglected dozens of special-needs animals at her home.
Officers with the Chandler Police Department were on scene Friday night executing a search warrant on the home of the Special Needs Animal Welfare League's founder, later identified as April McLaughlin. Neighbors had been voicing concerns about the rescue and animals for weeks.
McLaughlin was taken into custody, allegedly with a blanket over her head. She is facing the following charges:
- 55 counts of animal abuse-neglect which is a class one misdemeanor.
- 55 counts of cruelty to animals-failure to provide medical care which is also a class one misdemeanor.
- One count of vulnerable adult abuse, which is a class two felony.
Police identified the vulnerable adult as McLaughlin's mother, who was found inside the home.
The Arizona Humane Society was also on scene to assist in the seizure of animals and said many needed immediate medical attention. They removed and took custody of 55 dogs from the residence.
A spokesperson from the Chandler Police Department said they've been looking into reports from neighbors for two weeks. A veterinarian who saw some of the dogs told police they had medical concerns. That's when police obtained a search warrant on the home.
When officers arrived, they had to treat the scene as a hazmat situation because of the strong odor coming from the home, police said.
Chandler City Council on Thursday night had a meeting to discuss the situation after many neighbors contacted the city out of concern.
Chandler doesn’t have a hoarding or animal neglect law. The vice mayor asked the city manager to look into adding a city ordinance.
The investigation was conducted by Arizona Humane Society and the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office.
Timeline:
Sept. 8: Someone reported a hoarding situation and failing to provide medical care. An officer took the report and went to the home where they noticed the smell of urine through the closed door. The officer was unable to make contact with the owner.
Sept. 12: The Humane Society entered the home with consent from the homeowner. They reported seeing 25-30 dogs inside and identified five dogs that needed to be seen for veterinary care.
Sept. 12-18: Police said the owner took the five dogs to the vet
Sept. 20: The police department’s animal abuse liaison spoke to the homeowner and advised additional follow-up needed to be conducted for three of the dogs due to their conditions. The follow-up with the vet was scheduled for Sept. 22 for one of the dogs, and Sept. 26 for the remaining two.
Sept. 21: A 15-year-old was arrested for trespassing after he entered the yard of the home to check on a dog.
Sept. 22: The veterinarian expressed concerns to police that had not yet been reported. A search warrant was obtained.
>> This is a breaking news story and will be updated as more information becomes available.
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