Target: Rachel Mitchell, County Attorney, Maricopa County, Arizona
Goal: Secure the longest prison terms and permanent animal-ownership bans for the pair who allegedly starved three goldendoodles, causing at least one death.
According to sheriff’s investigators, three young goldendoodle dogs were brought to an emergency veterinarian in a state of extreme emaciation. One dog, Nala, reportedly had no body fat left and died despite frantic efforts to revive her. Another dog, Star, was allegedly skeletal and could barely stand; a third dog had apparently already perished in the couple’s apartment days earlier.
As reported by authorities, the dogs’ guardians admitted they fed the pets only “when they could afford it” while experiencing homelessness. Deputies say these animals had been wasting away for weeks, their bodies ravaged by prolonged lack of food and proper care. Two felony and two misdemeanor counts of animal cruelty have been filed, yet meaningful justice is far from guaranteed.
Severe, willful neglect that leads to slow and painful starvation warrants more than a slap on the wrist. The victims in this case depended completely on humans for survival and were reportedly abandoned to hunger instead. Justice must reflect the gravity of that betrayal. Sign below to demand robust sentencing—along with mandatory counseling and lifetime bans on owning animals—to affirm that deliberate deprivation of food and veterinary care is a serious crime, not a minor misstep.
PETITION LETTER:
Dear County Attorney Mitchell,
Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office reports detail a harrowing case in which three goldendoodle dogs were allegedly denied food until their bones protruded and their organs shut down. One dog, Nala, reportedly died at the animal hospital from starvation. Another, Star, survived only after extensive emergency treatment. A third dog had apparently died days earlier inside the defendants’ apartment.
These facts describe prolonged, conscious neglect that inflicted enormous suffering. When individuals knowingly allow defenseless animals to waste away, the law must respond forcefully. We urge your office to pursue the maximum incarceration allowed for each felony count of cruelty, seek lifetime prohibitions on animal ownership, and request mandatory psychological counseling for both defendants.
Such penalties would honor the life lost, protect future animals from similar harm, and send a clear message that Maricopa County will not tolerate egregious animal neglect. We respectfully ask that you champion strong, precedent-setting justice in this tragic case.
Sincerely,
[Your Name Here]
Photo credit: Lesli Whitecotton
