N4T Investigators: Rescue for troubled dogs closing its doors, more than 20 dogs under threat of euthanasia

The News 4 Tucson Investigators spoke exclusively with a group of four former Lucy’s Hope volunteers in June, that warned a closure was imminent and had concerns about the conditions they say the dogs were left in. They spoke under the condition of anonymity. 

“They are now in kennels that are covered in pee and feces and don’t get out as much as they should, maybe once a day.” one volunteer said.

“These animals were pulled but they were not saved,” another said.

The News 4 Tucson Investigators reached out to Pima County Animal Care Center (PACC) about the sudden closure and plan for the care of the dogs.

PACC confirmed it spoke with Lucy’s Hope owner Ben Garagazloo last week but referred us to Pinal County Animal Care and Control because Lucy’s Hope is based in Pinal County.

Audra Michael is the Director for Pinal County Animal Control, she told us they are expecting to receive at least 11 of the 22 dogs by Friday. She is hoping PACC will help take some because currently they are over capacity and these dogs will require special care.

“We just don’t have the space and these dogs that can’t be kenneled together so each one is going to require their own kennel,” Michael explained.

Despite Garagazloo’s claims that there is no mass euthanasia planned, Michael’s said she made t clear to him that they may need to euthanize the dogs if they can’t find them homes soon.

“I already told Ben when I spoke to him Friday that if we can’t place these dogs safely, we may have to euthanize them and I know he didn’t like to hear that because he got very quiet,” she said.

The News 4 Tucson Investigators investigated Lucy’s Hope and Garagazloo last year after many animal advocates raised concerns about the non-profits attempts to adopt out a poodle named Romeo that had a history of bites, including a serious case where he bit off the fingertip of his previous owner’s elderly mother.

Despite initial claims from Garagazloo that they hadn’t had any issues with him since, we spoke with fosters that cared for him that also experienced biting incidents.

Garagazloo then told us he didn’t believe Romeo was adoptable and planned to keep him living inside of their sanctuary at a ranch in Marana. It’s unclear what has become of Romeo.

For the volunteers we spoke with, they are hoping all the dogs can find homes and avoid being euthanized.

“These dogs have been waiting for far too long to find homes, they deserve homes, they are good dogs,” one volunteer said.

Michael’s told us they will be receiving the dogs Friday and will have to evaluate which dogs they can even bring to their shelter, they can not take any dogs with what they would consider a dangerous and violent history.

The News 4 Tucson Investigators have reached out to Garagazloo for further comment but he has not responded.

If you have a story you’d like the N4T Investigators to look into email us at investigators@kvoa.com or call our tip line at 520-955-4444.