Three horses found dead, four missing after Camp Verde flood
A property owner faces animal cruelty charges after refusing to let neighbors move the animals to higher ground as water rose.
By Robert Marshall ·
Three horses were recovered dead and four are missing and presumed dead after severe flooding struck Camp Verde, Arizona, according to the Camp Verde Marshal’s Office.
The marshal’s office charged the property owner with animal cruelty on Thursday. The suspect’s name has not yet been released to the public.
First responders arrived at the property on Sunday after reports indicated several horses were trapped in rising floodwaters. Emergency personnel and neighboring residents offered to assist in moving the animals to higher ground, but the owner refused to release them from their enclosures.
Investigators stated that the owner received repeated warnings about the worsening weather conditions but did not relocate the horses before the floodwaters overtook the area. Crews spent the days following the incident searching for the animals. Four horses were successfully rescued during the operation.
The marshal’s office collected physical evidence, interviewed witnesses and emergency responders, and reviewed veterinary evaluations prior to making the arrest. In a Facebook post, the agency thanked Copper Canyon Fire and Medical Authority, Emergency Equine Evacuation, and local volunteers for their efforts in dangerous conditions. The agency noted that animal welfare is a responsibility that should never be taken lightly, especially during natural disasters.
More than 100 homes in Camp Verde sustained damage from the severe flooding. A dozen of those homes are considered a total loss.
