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AIM OF THE PETITION: Pima County Sheriff’s Department (PCSD)

Passers-by discovered a 2 1/2 year old colt that starves to death and is disposed of like garbage in a notorious area in southern Arizona called Dogpatchaccording to local news.

Local resident Erick Munoz told 13 News that he often sees dead horses in the area, but he was surprised when he received a call from his children about a live horse.

The animal rescue group Equine Voices Rescue and Sanctuary came to the aid of the stallion, whom they later named “Little Man.” Despite attempts to save his life, Little Man’s organs failed and he had to be euthanized.

KVOA News reported that people have been dumping trash and animals in the desert area near Tucson International Airport for more than 15 years. Although the Pima County Sheriff’s Department (PCSD) claims that animal abandonment is a “major problem throughout the county,” rescue groups and residents argue that more needs to be done to prevent it in Dogpatch. Suggestions include monitoring the area as a deterrent or installing a trail camera.

“I brought home one of those Dogpatch mares almost 10 years ago, and long before that she was a notorious name,” Alex Beards commented in a Facebook post. “I don’t know what it actually takes to do something about this place.”

Equine Voices has REMOVED a total of six horses from the areaincluding two who were rescued just days apart in 2022 with the help of a local business owner. Angelique, who was found severely underweight and with signs of abuse, eventually recovered and stayed at the rescue. But Summer Rain, whose hooves were believed to have been sawed off, had to be euthanized.

Leaving an animal in the desert without food or water to die a slow and painful death is incredibly cruel..

Please sign our petition to call on the PCSD to increase surveillance of the area, investigate these cases, and prosecute those responsible to the fullest extent of the law.

Anyone with information is asked to report it to the PCSD at (520) 724-5900 ext. 4The Pima Animal Care Center also encourages the public to report found small animals to (520) 724-5900.