Target: Rachel Mitchell, Maricopa County Attorney, Arizona
Goal: Seek maximum penalties, a long animal-ownership ban, restitution, and mandated counseling for the party reportedly responsible for a horse found with oozing wounds and hooves neglected for roughly a year.
Video and photographs reportedly showed a single horse in shocking shape. Observers described open sores, pink flesh, and oozing injuries across the body. A veterinarian advised police that the hooves had not been maintained for about a year, which can cause crippling pain and slow torture with every step. Responding officers opened an animal-cruelty investigation, and the horse was later euthanized due to suffering.
Additional details reportedly deepened concern. An equestrian responder said the animal arrived with widespread wounds, not minor scrapes from routine pasture life. The property contact purportedly claimed the horse had been taken in as a rescue two months prior yet offered no clear history or credible explanation for the severe condition. Community members, horrified by the images, have asked for accountability and swift action.
Meaningful justice matters for future horses at risk. Neglect at an alarming scale allegedly lasted many months and ended in a death that might have been preventable with timely care. Prosecutors can deter repeat harm with strong charges, restitution for veterinary costs, a lengthy ban on possessing animals, and court-ordered counseling. This case warrants a firm response that prioritizes animal welfare and public safety; please pursue the toughest lawful outcome.
PETITION LETTER:
Dear County Attorney Mitchell,
We are writing regarding reports of a horse discovered in grievous condition, with extensive oozing wounds and hooves that a veterinarian reportedly assessed as neglected for roughly a year. Community advocates say officers responded in force, and a detective opened a cruelty investigation. The horse was later euthanized, apparently due to the severity of the suffering.
Witness accounts and images describe injuries far beyond routine pasture mishaps. The animal’s skin reportedly showed raw, pink tissue and multiple open sores. A professional hoof assessment, as relayed to police, indicated prolonged lack of care consistent with sustained pain. Explanations offered on scene reportedly failed to account for the depth and duration of this neglect.
We respectfully urge your office to file and pursue the strongest appropriate charges, seek restitution for medical costs, and request a lengthy prohibition on owning or keeping animals. We also ask that you seek mandated counseling and compliance checks that address risk of reoffense. A clear, firm outcome here will help protect vulnerable animals and reinforce county standards for humane care.
Sincerely,
[Your Name Here]
Photo credit: Balazs Simon
