Detectives from the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office Animal Crimes Investigations Unit have arrested Amber Dahl, 30 (DOB 2/7/1986), of Litchfield Park, Arizona on two counts of animal cruelty. Dahl was the owner of two horses found to be in medical distress due to a lack of nourishment. Dahl admitted to detectives that she had purchased the horses off of Craigslist and did not have the financial means to care for them properly.
A Grey Mare, approximately 15 to 18 years old, named Mercedes, was determined to be 350lbs underweight and an 8 year old Black Gelding named Coal was 250lbs underweight. The two horses were transported for medical evaluation and taken the Sheriff’s Office MASH II compound near the Tent City Jail. Mercedes had to be euthanized by the veterinarian after the horse condition worsened.
Dahl was booked into the 4th Ave Jail without incident.
Sheriff Arpaio created the Animal Crimes Investigations Unit over a decade ago. During 2015, Sheriff’s detectives have responded to 191 Cruelty and neglect cases involving horses. In that period detectives had 21 investigative cases and made 20 arrests of suspects, seizing and saving 26 horses from certain death.