PHOENIX — After 45 cats and dogs were seized from AZ Dog Adoptions in Phoenix Wednesday night, it had us asking the question: What are the rules for setting one of these rescues up?
Team 12's Mike Gonzalez found out the rules are surprisingly few.
In February of this year, police and the Arizona Humane Society seized more than 200 animals from Planet Petopia Doggie Dude Ranch on 13th Avenue and Hatcher Road.
Then in October, the Shelter Paws Sanctuary in Mesa was raided after finding dogs in deplorable conditions.
In Arizona, there is no oversight of these rescues. The only thing you need is a business license.
If the animals aren’t in good health – the only thing law enforcement agencies have to rely on are tips. 12 News spoke to Arizona Humane Society Field Operations Supervisor Ruthie Jesus about this troubling issue.
"It certainly is a very relaxed area across the country and in the state of Arizona as well. From a police standpoint, what they’re looking for is there is minimum standards for food, water and access to medical treatments and the animal is in good condition, is what they’re looking to enforce," said Jesus.
Jesus says there are many good rescues in our area, but you need to do your homework before you adopt a dog from one of these operations.
"What we always recommend is you do a home check. You do a home check, a tour, you ask where the animal is being held, you ask to see their records, vaccination history and spay and neutered history," said Jesus
So we can verify, you don’t need a special license to open up an animal rescue in Maricopa County or the state of Arizona, and it’s a completely unregulated business.
No one was arrested in yesterday’s raid. The animals are being cared for at the Arizona Humane Society.