Target: Rachel Mitchell, County Attorney, Maricopa County, Arizona
Goal: Enforce maximum criminal fines, jail time, and lifetime pet-ownership bans for individuals who abandon animals in extreme heat.
Parking lots, roadside shoulders, and even a community dog park have become dumping grounds for terrified pets in Maricopa County. Two dogs—later named Coco and Holly—were left at Copper Sky dog park on a scorching day, so overheated and bewildered that rescuers feared for their lives. Local sanctuary operators say dozens of similar abandonment cases have surfaced in recent weeks, leaving shelters beyond capacity and animals in grave danger.
Sanctuary staff and volunteers find pets dehydrated, confused, and sometimes injured after being discarded “where people will find them.” The county attorney’s office has stated that animal-welfare cases remain a priority, yet advocates insist stronger enforcement and stiffer consequences are urgently needed. Without decisive action, the cycle of abandonment will likely worsen, straining rescue resources and endangering countless animals.
Criminal abandonment is already illegal under Arizona law; it is time to ensure the law has teeth. Sign below to demand arrests, maximum fines, jail sentences, and permanent bans on animal possession to send a clear message that living, feeling beings are not disposable. The animals left to suffer in blistering parking lots and parks deserve justice—and future pets deserve protection.
PETITION LETTER:
Dear County Attorney Mitchell,
Recent reports from Maricopa county describe an alarming surge in pet abandonment. Two dogs, Coco and Holly, were found panting and disoriented in the July heat at Copper Sky dog park, while sanctuary operators recount dozens of similar cases in parking lots and along roadsides. These animals are being left without water, shelter, or any means of survival in triple-digit temperatures.
Arizona statutes classify abandonment and neglect as criminal offenses, yet rescue organizations say they are overwhelmed and that many offenders remain unidentified or unpunished. Abandoning a companion animal in extreme conditions is not only cruel; it poses a public-health and safety risk as frightened pets may become aggressive or injured, creating additional burdens for law enforcement and veterinary services.
We respectfully urge your office to pursue the maximum penalties—substantial fines, custodial sentences, restitution for veterinary care, and permanent prohibitions on owning animals—against individuals proven to have abandoned pets. Visible, consistent prosecution will deter future acts of cruelty, safeguard animals, and reinforce the county’s stated commitment to animal welfare.
Sincerely,
[Your Name Here]
Photo credit: Christopher Lancaster
