Dogs found living in filthy conditions at property: MCSO

9 dogs saved from filthy conditions: MCSO

Officials with MCSO said they have saved nine dogs from filthy conditions, after they say the dogs' owner abandoned them. FOX 10's Steve Nielsen has more.

PHOENIX - Officials with the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office say multiple dogs were found living in filthy conditions at a property within the county.

What we know:

Per a statement, MCSO's Animal Crimes Unit served a search warrant on Feb. 18 in the area of Old US 80 and Salome Highway for nine dogs that were described as "living in filthy conditions and not provided with adequate food, water, or shelter."

"It seems like every week we're out doing something," said Dave Evans with the MCSO Animal Crimes Unit. "We got a tip about this place, probably a week and a half ago, that there was somebody living here with a large amount of animals."

Investigators said they found a woman with an RV, and said they'd be checking in with her on the condition of the dogs.

"We came back the next day. The RV was gone, and the dogs are here, so the person pretty much abandoned them," said Evans.

Dig deeper:

Investigators said the dogs were living with a woman named Gina Steffes. The dogs are currently being cared for by Palm Glen Animal Hospital.

"We vaccinate them, draw blood, fix them, spay and neuter, and make sure they're healthy to go to their forever homes," asaid Rebecca Garcia with the animal hospital.

What we don't know:

While officials said nine dogs were found, we do not know how many dogs the person who owned them left with before deputies arrived.

"We're going to go after the person that abandoned these dogs," said Dave Evans with the MCSO Animal Crimes Unit. "It's one thing if you're living in an RV, but to take on this many dogs, I don't get it. And the way they were housed and the conditions…it's deplorable." 

Area where the incident happened