Arizona woman accused of endangering dogs charged with 22 counts of animal cruelty

PHOENIX — An Arizona woman has been arrested and charged with animal cruelty after deputies rescued multiple dogs from unsafe and unsanitary conditions, according to court documents.

Deputies with the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office arrested 42‑year‑old Gina Marie Steffes on Wednesday on 22 counts of animal cruelty, arrest records said.

The arrest took place after repeated visits to the property where she lived in a mobile home in Arlington, an unincorporated community about 43 miles west of downtown Phoenix along U.S. 80. Deputies repeatedly observed dogs in unsafe and unsanitary conditions.

During one visit, they found dogs becoming entangled in tethering devices and choking hazards, requiring law enforcement intervention to prevent injury or death, court documents said.

MCSO originally rescued nine dogs from Arizona woman’s home

The investigation began on Feb. 9, when deputies first responded to reports of dogs being kept in small crates and unsanitary conditions at Steffes’ Arlington residence.

Deputies made multiple attempts to contact Steffes — including door knocks, verbal announcements of “sheriff’s office,” and written notices left at the property — but received no response. Court documents described several red flags they observed when visiting the residence on five different days over the course of a week:

• Dogs confined in undersized metal cages.
• Dogs housed in outdoor runs filled with feces and trash.
• No access to clean drinking water for dogs.
• Water bowls being contaminated with feces.
• Dogs being tethered without adequate shelter or water.

On Feb. 18, deputies served a search warrant and rescued nine dogs. A veterinarian later confirmed the conditions the dogs were living in didn’t meet Arizona’s legal standards for humane animal care.

Those standards were strengthened last year, when Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs signed a law expanding the state’s definition of animal cruelty and requiring owners to provide adequate food, water and shelter. The change followed several high‑profile animal abuse cases in which legal loopholes prevented law enforcement from rescuing animals in a timely manner.

Follow-up seizure led to rescue of 13 additional dogs

Deputies executed a second search warrant at the property and Steffes’ motor home on Feb. 24.

After repeated announcements went unanswered, deputies forced entry. Inside, they found 13 additional dogs — including 10 puppies who were around three weeks old — living in extreme filth.

The interior of the motor home was saturated with feces and urine, lacked ventilation and posed immediate health risks, court documents said. The mother dog and her puppies were confined to a heavily soiled metal cage, with feces present in their food and water dishes.

All animals seized during both warrant operations were transported to Palm Glenn Animal Hospital for emergency veterinary evaluation and treatment, court documents said.

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