Overview

• A Maricopa County Justice Court judge ruled this week that deputies did not meet the burden to show cruel mistreatment or neglect and ordered all animals returned to owner Benjamin Alvarez.
• Roughly 50 animals were seized in August, including about 25 horses, a zebra, two camels, peacocks, around 20 goats, a bull, and a cockatoo.
• Investigators testified they found no water on the property, while Alvarez said he had watered the animals that night and morning and blamed a leak for the apparent shortage.
• The judge found exigent circumstances justified a deputy’s initial entry before warrants were obtained, despite the defense challenge to the search.
• MCSO said it will facilitate the return and that the criminal probe remains open, and first responders previously delivered more than 2,000 gallons of water during the August response.