ABC15 was granted exclusive access to a home where authorities said they rescued 50 dogs from an animal hoarder.
As the property owner, Vaughn Bair, went through the house with us, the stench was overwhelming. Cabinets and walls were ruined.
Bair estimates he'll have to put $15,000 into repairs.
"This whole scenario, I've never seen anything like it," Bair said. "She did take advantage of us. Maybe we were too nice about it. [I] guess we learned our lesson."
Bair said he tried to help 55-year-old Laurie Collins after she claimed that she was the victim of a Craigslist rental scam on the vacant house. Bair's property investment company, OfferPad, owns the house near 67th and Olive avenues in Glendale. He says he felt bad for the woman and allowed her to live there temporarily, but he started eviction proceedings when she wouldn’t move out. He says he had no idea how many dogs she had taken in until Wednesday.
Collins had her first court appearance Thursday. She is facing a slew of preliminary charges of animal cruelty. Her daughter is blaming the dogs' injuries and poor conditions on the police and humane society workers who came in during her eviction.
"They wouldn't let us go back on the property, said we would be trespassing," said Carlie Collins, the suspect’s daughter. "They wouldn't let us help the dogs at all. They let them constantly fight."
Arizona Humane Society officials said they responded quickly and that they have an extensive history with Collins.
"We tried to work with her and help her with things she needed for her animals," human society spokeswoman Bretta Nelson said. She said the assistance over several years included providing food, spay and neuter vouchers and helping with animals that had medical issues.
