Chandler-area owner of dead dog, chickens faces multiple animal-cruelty charges

A Chandler-area man was taken into custody on suspicion of eight counts animal cruelty after a neighbor's desperate efforts to save a dying dog failed, according to court documents.

Ismael Ochoa, 31, was arrested Monday after investigators with the Maricopa County Animal Crimes Unit found one dog dead and three others suffering from heat exhaustion on his property Monday.

A neighbor had called the Animal Crimes Unit after she had jumped the residence's fence about 3:30 p.m. and found a dog convulsing, court documents said. The caller unchained the dog and dragged it to a water source, attempting to cool it down, but the dog died, court documents said.

Ochoa, the owner of the residence and the dog, walked toward the woman and asked if the dog was dead, court documents said.

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Monday's temperature was above 116 degrees.

Around 5:15 p.m., deputies arrived at the residence, in the 12400 block of East Victoria Street, near Riggs and Cooper roads. They saw the dead dog and three other dogs staked to chains, court documents said. The dogs appeared in heat distress, and two did not have water, court documents said.

Deputies detained Ochoa as he was getting into a truck at the rear of the property, court documents said.

They also observed several live and dead chickens in cages without water on the east side of the yard and a chicken in a metal cage without shelter or water, according to court documents.

Ochoa was found to have three outstanding warrants for his arrest, including obstruction of justice, assault and driving with a suspended license, according to Sheriff Joe Arpaio.

Ochoa told deputies that he last gave the dead dog water at noon and thought it had died of dehydration.

Ochoa was released from custody on his own recognizance after his initial appearance in Maricopa County Superior Court. His next appearance is scheduled for July 5.