Wind Advisory
from SAT 12:00 PM MST until SAT 10:00 PM MST, Western Pima County including Ajo/Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument, Tohono O'odham Nation including Sells, Upper Santa Cruz River and Altar Valleys including Nogales, Tucson Metro Area including Tucson/Green Valley/Marana/Vail, South Central Pinal County including Eloy/Picacho Peak State Park, Southeast Pinal County including Kearny/Mammoth/Oracle, Upper San Pedro River Valley including Sierra Vista/Benson, Eastern Cochise County below 5000 ft including Douglas/Wilcox, Upper Gila River and Aravaipa Valleys including Clifton/Safford, White Mountains of Graham and Greenlee Counties including Hannagan Meadow, Galiuro and Pinaleno Mountains including Mount Graham, Chiricahua Mountains including Chiricahua National Monument, Dragoon/Mule/Huachuca and Santa Rita Mountains including Bisbee/Canelo Hills/Madera Canyon, Santa Catalina and Rincon Mountains including Mount Lemmon/Summerhaven, Baboquivari Mountains including Kitt Peak, Kofa, Central La Paz, Aguila Valley, Southeast Yuma County, Gila River Valley, Northwest Valley, Tonopah Desert, Gila Bend, Buckeye/Avondale, Cave Creek/New River, Deer Valley, Central Phoenix, North Phoenix/Glendale, New River Mesa, Scottsdale/Paradise Valley, Rio Verde/Salt River, East Valley, Fountain Hills/East Mesa, South Mountain/Ahwatukee, Southeast Valley/Queen Creek, Superior, Northwest Pinal County, West Pinal County, Apache Junction/Gold Canyon, Tonto Basin, Mazatzal Mountains, Pinal/Superstition Mountains, Sonoran Desert Natl Monument, San Carlos, Dripping Springs, Globe/Miami, Southeast Gila County

Nearly 40 animals seized in east Mesa animal abuse investigation

Dogs, reptiles, rodents, and even birds were taken from an east Mesa home following an animal abuse investigation.

According to the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office, the office's Animal Crimes Investigation unit, along with a team of veterinarians, went to the a home near Crismon and Southern as part of an animal abuse investigation.

The homeowners, according to the statement, surrendered nearly 40 animals that were on the property, including 15 breeds of dogs, as well as a number of birds, lizards, hedgehogs, spiders, and snakes.

"This is the most unusual animal crimes investigation that I have seen in my tenure as sheriff," Joe Arpaio said. "The conditions in this house were deplorable. No one animal should be subject to the kind of living disorder the owners provided, let alone the menagerie of animals they collected."

Criminal charges, according to the statement, may be filed against the three adults who reside at the home.

Investigators believe the animals were groomed by the owners for sale, and many of them appear to be undernourished.