Target: Rachel Mitchell, County Attorney, Maricopa County, Arizona
Goal: Secure felony convictions, maximum prison time, and a lifelong animal-ownership ban for the individual who tossed a dog from a moving vehicle.
A surveillance camera captured a heart-stopping scene: a dark-colored car slowed near a trash can, an occupant opened the door, and a dog was flung onto the street before the vehicle sped away. The discarded animal now joins a growing list of pets abandoned or otherwise mistreated, with the Arizona Humane Society responding to more than 65 cruelty and distress calls in a single morning.
According to humane-society spokespeople, such drive-by abandonments are becoming alarmingly common. Animals thrown from cars can suffer broken bones, internal injuries, and extreme psychological trauma. Even if they survive the impact, they are left to fend for themselves in traffic and triple-digit temperatures, potentially condemning them to a slow, agonizing death.
Holding the person responsible fully accountable is essential to deter future cruelty. Sign below to demand a strong felony case, substantial jail time, restitution for veterinary care, and a permanent prohibition on owning animals to send the clear message that this community will not tolerate acts of deliberate abandonment and violence against pets.
PETITION LETTER:
District Attorney Mitchell,
A recent surveillance video shows a dog being tossed from a vehicle near 51st Avenue and McDowell Road. Moments after the animal hit the pavement, the driver sped off, leaving the defenseless pet to whatever fate awaited on a busy roadway. This incident is part of an escalating pattern of cruelty; the Arizona Humane Society reports fielding dozens of similar distress calls each day.
The deliberate abandonment of an animal from a moving car is more than neglect—it is a violent act that can cause catastrophic injuries and intense fear. Allowing perpetrators of such cruelty to escape with minimal penalties emboldens others to treat living beings as disposable objects, further burdening shelters and endangering public safety.
We urge your office to pursue the highest possible felony charges, seek the maximum sentence, require full restitution for the animal’s care, and impose a lifetime ban on animal ownership. A decisive response will demonstrate that Maricopa County stands firmly against those who would so callously discard a trusting companion.
Sincerely,
[Your Name Here]
Photo credit: Helena Lopes
