PHOENIX — Police find six dead dogs and nine others suffering from malnutrition.
Phoenix police report that late Sunday night an officer was patrolling the area near 35th Avenue and Van Buren Street, when they smelled a strong odor of what they believed was a decomposing body.
The officer checked the home and reportedly saw a dead dog in the center of the front room.
A neighbor told police that they hadn't seen the homeowner for 2-3 days.
Police contacted the owner Blanche Lopez, 61, who returned home. When they entered the home, police allegedly found six deceased dogs and nine others showing signs of malnutrition.
Police say the home was covered in dog feces, dried and fresh blood. The dead dogs were decomposing, and maggot infested, according to court records.
Lopez reputedly tried removing the dead dogs but refused to speak with officers.
She was arrested on 15 counts of animal cruelty.
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