The latest on the Chandler animal abuse investigation: What's next for the dogs?
CHANDLER, Ariz. - Monday is the last day the woman at the center of an animal abuse investigation in Chandler can file to get her dogs back.
It's unclear where April McLaughlin has been since she was released from jail last week. Police had accused her of 55 counts of animal cruelty among other charges, but those were dropped on Sept. 27.
During her initial court appearance, McLaughlin told the Chandler Municipal Court that she had changed her name to Sydney McKinley. There is also a hearing scheduled for Oct. 11 for a person by that name.
The Arizona Humane Society says McLaughlin filed to retain custody of the dogs. According to court documents, she is petitioning for 47 of the 55 seized dogs to be returned to her possession.
If she did not file, the rescue would have received custody and would have returned the animals to their previous owners.
"We are saddened by the news April McLaughlin requested a hearing in response to the 55 dogs seized from her property," said the Arizona Humane Society in a statement. "As the legal process unfolds, the dogs will remain with the Arizona Humane Society. Since we have not been granted custody of these animals, we are not allowed to return them to former rescue groups or release them from our supervision."
Updates on dogs
Latest on dogs seized in Chandler abuse probe
It has been days since dozens of dogs were seized from a home in Chandler amid an animal abuse probe, and we have since learned that some of the dogs seized have been reunited with rescue groups that originally saved them. FOX 10's Marissa Sarbak reports.
On Oct. 4, we have learned that a few of the dogs involved in the case have been reunited with their original rescue groups.
"Today is really powerful. It’s a positive outcome for the dogs right now," said Dr. Steve Hansen. "They’re doing remarkably well. They’re eating, they’re gaining weight. We’re changing bandages daily. They go out in our play yards. Those that are paralyzed get to practice in carts."
Dr. Hansen was charged with the daunting task of nursing these abused dogs back to health. Some of the pets had injuries so severe that they had to be euthanized. Dr. Hansen says this is the worst scenario he has ever seen as a vet.
"You’re seeing dogs that have been terribly, terribly neglected, and it’s been going on for a very extended amount of time. The degree of injury and the age of the wounds tells us that this is not fresh. This has been going on for months," said Dr. Hansen. "To think that somebody could do that, day in and day out, is really hard for us, for me, for our team to understand. Especially the type of wounds that we saw."
‘It smelled like death’
Neighbors say they saw her come to her home once last week. They are left with flies, fleas, and the horrific smell coming from her home.
"It's a smell you can't even describe," said Antonia Martinez, a neighbor. "It's not even describable. It smelled like death."
For five years, Martinez has been living next to April McLaughlin near Cooper and Pecos roads. Even with the dogs out of the one-story home and a small backyard, the smell of feces and urine is not going away.
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"The doors were open for four days with a fence, and the smell was horrid coming out of there," Martinez said. "When the wind would blow, it would blow into our backyard and our front yard. So, I called to ask if someone can close the windows."
Neighbors, rescues, and dog parents all paid their respects at the home where police say the 55 dogs were found living in filth. But residents say McLaughlin destroyed the memorial.
"She was just here to get her car from what I can see," said Martinez. "She had some people with her, and she knocked over vases and flowers, took the dog pictures down, dumped over her trash cans, and she left."
Chandler animal abuse investigation: Group holds vigil for animal victims
A vigil was organized in Chandler on Sept. 30 to remember the animals found living in horrid conditions inside a home that was billed as a special needs dog rescue.
The Maricopa County Attorney's Office dropped misdemeanor charges and sent it back to the police to keep investigating.
The question remains: Where is April McLaughlin? Neighbors who have been dealing with this for years want answers.
"It's horrific," said Martinez. "I don't think she should ever be able to have another animal after what she did to these animals."