Man facing animal abuse charges after dog dies

CHANDLER, Ariz. (KSAZ) - The heat has claimed several lives in the past few days.

Five people died while exercising outside, and now a dog has fallen victim to the weather.

MCSO deputies arrested a man on animal abuse charges after they found a dead dog on his property, four dogs suffering from heat sickness, and dozens of chickens in the heat. They say there was no water available to the animals.

Sheriff Joe Arpaio says these animals were chained up in the yard without water and with little shade. The remaining dogs and chickens will be checked for heat related issues once a search warrant is completed.

All of this happened after someone saw the dog that died convulsing on the ground. She ran into the yard to help, but it was too late. When deputies arrived, they found the dog's owner Ismael Ochoa trying to get into his car and leave. Deputies took him into custody at gunpoint without further incident.

Deputies say Ochoa had four outstanding warrants and was known to them because of a domestic violence charge against his wife.

Arpaio says Ochoa now faces some very serious charges. The dogs will be taken to MCSO's MASH unit to be cared for after an examination by a vet.