Nearly 200 Frozen Animals Found in Arizona Man's Garage Freezer
Some of the animals, including dogs, rabbits, and rats, were reportedly frozen alive. Species Unite is fighting for justice for these animals by pushing for the maximum possible sentence.
An Arizona man has been arrested and is facing animal cruelty charges after nearly 200 animals were found in a freezer, according to officials.
Mohave County officers discovered the 183 dead animals, including birds, dogs, lizards, mice, snakes, turtles, rabbits and rats, in a garage freezer of a rented home in Mohave County on April 3.
The 43-year-old suspect, Michael Patrick Turland, was reported to the authorities by a lady who said he had failed to return her snake that he had agreed to breed. She was led to contact officials after the property owner came across the frozen animals in the garage and informed her. During a subsequent animal welfare inspection, the frozen animals were discovered, the sheriff’s office said Thursday in a statement.
During an interview, Turland confessed that he froze some of the animals while they were still alive, the sheriff's office said. “Several of the animals appeared to have been frozen alive due to their body positioning,” read the statement.
Michael Patrick Turland is facing animal cruelty charges. Mohave County
The U.S. House of Representatives and Senate passed bills in 2019 that made animal cruelty a federal crime.
Therefore, Turland is now facing 94 counts of animal cruelty and could also face charges for animal hoarding under Arizona law.
Most animal abuse cases in Arizona are class 1 misdemeanors which carry a maximum sentence of six months of jail time while serious animal abuse cases can be upgraded to felony changes and carry a maximum sentence of 2.5 years.
Take action
Please join Species Unite in urging Arizona prosecutors to fight for justice for the victims of this horrific crime here. Michael Patrick Turland must receive the maximum possible sentence and never be allowed to be in possession of another animal again.
What we think matters
No animal should be found inside a freezer. Agree? Learn how to live in line with your animal-loving values with our What We Think, Wear, & Eat Matters: 7-Day Challenge. Sign up here.
Plus, this conversation with Harvard-educated psychologist, Melanie Joy, will inspire you to delve a little deeper into the systems and beliefs that quietly run the show when it comes to the psychology of what (and who) we eat. Listen here.
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The footage was reportedly recorded at Marshall BioResources in North Rose, New York, where up to 22,000 dogs - mostly beagles - are being bred for animal experimentation.