120 neglected animals discovered

by Daphne Adato/KTAR (November 3rd, 2009 @ 5:31pm)

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Comments:6

PHOENIX - A local animal rescue business owner was arrested Tuesday morning after up to 120 neglected cats and dogs were discovered.

Diane Habener, 61, owned Tuffies Rescue, and took in hundreds of animals in an attempt to save them from being euthanized, according to the Maricopa County Sherriff's Office.

"She did have a soft spot in her heart for animals. I presume she did," said Arpaio. "But, it's my policy - anybody that abuses or neglects animals - that we arrest them."

The animals were found without water, food and covered in feces. Many were caged in kennels too small to allow movement by the animal, said authorities.

Habener has been booked into the Fourth Avenue Jail.

Last 5 Comments

• 0 Reply Abuse Vote

  Hmmmmm

  D M

  According to "Tuffies Rescue" website, this woman's rescue was a spin-off of the Tuffies Rescue out of San Francisco: http://www.tarescue.com/ ... This woman they arrested doesn't "own" Tuffies Rescue, she's merely a Director of the rescue located in Arizona. Makes me wonder if the people in San Fran ever bothered to meet this woman. Do they even know what she looks like? After reading this article, if I lived in San Fran, I sure the h-ell wouldn't be picking up any animals coming from Tuffies. Explanation of Tuffies Rescue found on Petfinder: http://www.petfinder.com/shelters/CA906.html

  48537
• 0 Reply Abuse Vote

  Hoarders like this need

  Georgina M

  serious help. I'm always curious why it takes so long for family, friends and neighbors of hoarders to pull the plug on these people. Arresting her is the right thing to do, that way they can require her to undergo a psyche evaluation and get proper help, otherwise, hoarders live in denial and think they are doing good, not harm. I know a hoarder, but at least its only with junk, not animals, but it's still horrible and she's always in denial. We can't do anything about her unless an incident happens where she's a health risk or a threat to herself or others.

  48479
• 0 Reply Abuse Vote

  Its the culture

  MikeHunt

  thats it

  48408
• 0 Reply Abuse Vote

  Wow

  Go Bucks

  Can someone just put a gun to this tweekers head and pull the trigger. We need to start ridding the earth of scum, since it is not happening by natural selection anymore.

  48378
• 0 Reply Abuse Vote

  Send your checks to:

  AZMomma

  Wonder how many out there have contributed to her "rescue" mission over the years?

  48377
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