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PD: Dead dogs found eaten by other dogs in Mesa home

Posted at 2:02 PM, Jan 22, 2019
and last updated 2019-01-22 16:02:58-05

MESA, Ariz. — Mesa police found six dead dogs in a Mesa home, some of which were eaten by other dogs.

Mesa police report that on January 15 they searched a home near Stapley Drive and McKellips Road.

Police say, "We could not walk anywhere inside the residence without stepping in dog feces."

Police allegedly found 12 live dogs and 5 live cats all in poor health.

They also reportedly found six dead dogs in the kitchen trash can.

In the bedroom, police allegedly found two animal skulls and the skeletal remains of another dog in the living room.

The resident, 62-year-old Theresa Deanne Finneren, was questioned by police and reportedly said, "She was just overwhelmed and stopped caring."

When asked about the skeletal remains, Finneren reportedly told police that she put the dead dogs in the trash can, but, "other dogs got into the trash can (and) must have eaten them."

Police and Mesa animal control officials say they have received numerous complaints about the smell coming from the home.

Finneren was arrested for 17 counts of animal cruelty.