GLENDALE, Ariz. - In May, Laurie Collins thought she found the perfect home in Glendale for her, her daughter and their dogs. It turns out the person who rented them the house didn't own it, and when the rightful owner found out, he started eviction proceedings.
Collins said she knew she had to work fast to find her dogs homes.
"I started calling rescues," she said. "I did everything to try and get them to go and be rescued."
She said she wasn't having much luck and on Aug. 3 just before 10 a.m., the clock ran out. Maricopa County constables, along with Glendale police, showed up at Collins' door and the situation immediately escalated.
"I'm not leaving the dogs. I'm not leaving the dogs," Collins pleaded with the officers. "The dogs are going crazy out back."
Glendale police were alarmed at the number of dogs on the property and put a call out for assistance.
"Over 35 dogs in the backyard with no shelter or shade, minimal water," Ofc.Tiffany Smith said. "The conditions were horrendous for the animals."
In total it was more than 50.
Collins said none of the dogs in her care were ever mistreated. She claims the abuse started over the four hours while police waited for members of the All Animal Rescue and Arizona Humane Society to arrive.
"They were doing nothing to help my dogs," Collins said. "They heard them slaughtering each other 'cause they were so hot and confused," she reasoned.
In a statement, the Glendale Police Department said officers did respond "a short time later to check the welfare of the dogs and assist the Humane Society."
Collins said she is prepared to clear her name and see that the police who responded take responsibility for their lack of compassion.
"I'm going to fight the fact that cops can't just do what they want to do and watch dogs die and just be totally indifferent to the outcome," Collins said.
Collins was arrested and charged with 52 counts of animal cruelty. Glendale police say the Maricopa County Attorney's Office is reviewing the case.