THREE POINTS, Ariz. (KVOA) — The Pima County Sheriff’s Department and Pima Animal Care Center (PACC) are trying to figure out how two dogs ended up in the desert left for dead in Three Points.
One woman News 4 Tucson spoke with who encountered the dead dogs says this is an obvious sign of cruelty.
This past Sunday Cheryl Butler says she and her husband decided to take their dogs out.
They drove on to an abandoned road that goes out to the desert near Ajo Highway and Herman Road in Three points.
“And we thought maybe this would be a good spot to bring them for a ride and let them run,” Butler said.
Instead Butler encountered two dead dogs.
She says both appear to have been tied up, News 4 Tucson is blurring the dogs due to the sensitive nature of the images.
“And to think to know they suffered like they did with no chance, it’s not right,” Butler said emotionally, holding back tears.
The Pima County Sheriff’s Department says deputies responded Monday evening.
“We don’t know a whole lot at this point. We don’t have any suspects leads to go on,” said Detective Ted Noon.
Based on that little info, PCSD is only classifying this as “animal dumping” but not ruling out animal cruelty.
“Animal cruelty statute in Arizona provides for both misdemeanor and felony prosecutions,” Noon said.
And that’s what Cheryl Butler believes happened in the desert.
“And if they’re going to do this to animals, what’s their next move? A human? A child?” Butler asked rhetorically.
Director for PACC Steve Kozachik says animal protection showed up with deputies on Monday but were told not to take the dogs.
“The sheriff’s department advised us that they did not want us touching the animals because it’s a part of a crime scene. So we left,” Kozachik said.
After News 4 Tucson showed up Friday, PACC says they are now retrieving the animals, Kozachik says depending on their stage of decomposition they can try to determine how the dogs died and if they were micro chipped.
“So we would have checked all that to see if we can find an owner,” Kozachik said.
Cheryl Butler hopes sharing her story will encourage people to look out for suspicious acts.
“People need to be aware and keep their eyes and ears open,” Butler said.
PACC says if anyone needs help providing for their animal to reach out to them.
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