Hereford, AZ – A woman who operated a rescue organization in Arizona is facing nearly 150 animal cruelty charges following the discovery of dead animals in a freezer, and neglected animals living in deplorable conditions. The Cochise County Sheriff’s Office said 56-year-old Jill Houchens was arrested on February 19 on 146 charges of Animal Cruelty/Neglect, including 27 felony counts and 119 misdemeanors.
An investigation was launched after an animal cruelty complaint was made on February 6. Sheriff Mark Dannels writes:
During the course of the investigation a search warrant was served at the home on February 9, 2024. Animal Control Officers and Deputies made entry to the residence and discovered several neglected animals living in extremely poor conditions. The areas where animals were kept was filled with feces and there was no clean area for the animals to stand. There was little to no water available for any of the animals and no food left out.
There were 19 animals who survived the neglected; they are currently being held as evidence until this case is adjudicated.
Houchens is affiliated with an area animal rescue and pet-sitting services. AZ Family reports that Houchens worked for the Cochise County Sheriff’s Office as an animal control officer from 2012-2017.
(Image of Houchens via Cochise County Sheriff’s Office Facebook page)
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WTF. How do people like this fly under the radar and even hold positions like this!! Mind boggling. I hope she receives proper punishment and is banned from owning animals for life.
Even if convicted it’s not enough. This woman preyed on the most vulnerable victims, special needs animals other rescues depended on her “medical expertise” to handle for them. She took substantial payments from rescues and therefore from their donors, killed many due to willful neglect, she even stripped one of his wheelchair who was then left to drag himself through his own feces for months and was ultimately euthanized. There can be no legal justice for this psychopath.
She needs to be locked away! She is a despicable disgrace to the human race & animal welfare organizations.
She must be prohibited from ever owning or working with animals. She is sub human.
LOCK IT UP. IT DESERVES THE SAME TREATMENT
FELONY CHARGES!!! Make them all stand. Do not let her have a plea deal! What she has done to these innocent creatures is unforgiveable. She should get what she gave. Put her in jail and give her no food and let her sit in her own feces. Let her die in jail and then burn in hell for eternity. She deserves nothing less especially with FELONY CHARGES!!!
One of the problems is there is no oversight of “rescues.” It can become quite lucrative – making money off vulnerable, homeless unwanted animals. Anyone can call themselves a rescue and then start taking in animals and the money given with them to take care of their needs.
Death penalty to that vile evil creature! Hope she gets piss in her cup when she asks for water. Just useless garbage that doesn’t deserve to breathe.
Punish the POS to the MAXIMUM and do testing on daily instead of animals use THAT….Stop using animals use CRIMINALS…..
WHAT A CRUEL EVIL UGLY MONSTER!!! MAKE THAT SCUMBAG PAY!! KILL HER!!!!!