City of Chandler

Chandler City Hall

Chandler officials are close to expanding the city’s animal-cruelty ordinance to include the crime of animal hoarding. The update would make it illegal to keep any number of animals at such quantities and circumstances that the health and welfare of any animal or person is harmed.

Kelly Schwab is the city attorney.

“It was originally adopted back in the 1970s. It had not been updated a lot except for very specific small changes. And it didn’t provide a broad enough definition of animal cruelty,” she said.

In September, Chandler police said they rescued a senior and 55 dogs from filthy conditions at one woman’s home. The case against her is ongoing.

Chandler City Council is expected to vote on a final adoption of the ordinance next month.