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The Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office said it seized 16 neglected animals in New River on Sept. 25, 2017. Owner Dan Remington signed over the animals to MCSO because he was unable to cover medical costs, officials said.

More than a dozen neglected animals were seized by the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office Animal Crime Unit from a New River rehabilitation center for young people who are deaf, officials said Thursday. 

On Sept. 22, MCSO detectives responded to suspected animal-cruelty complaints involving Remington Deaf Ranch, near New River Road and 31st Avenue.

The Remington Deaf Ranch describes itself as a rehabilitation facility that assists deaf people from ages 12 to 21 with alcohol or drug problems through treatment and home schooling. 

The owner of the animals was identified as Dan Remington by MCSO officials. He turned over 16 animals after MCSO received four separate complaints on the agency’s Animal Crimes Hotline about their conditions, said Sgt. Joaquin Enriquez, a Sheriff’s Office spokesman, during a press conference.

According to a press release from MCSO, deputies “observed extremely thin horses with injuries” at the ranch.

Three days later, MCSO Animal Crime Unit detectives were able to enter the 2-acre property through a search warrant. 

MCSO seized nine horses, including one foal, along with five dogs, a puppy and one miniature donkey.

Remington told authorities he was unable to afford medical costs for the animals and decided to sign them over to MCSO, sheriff’s officials said.

Aside from the animals found, officials also noticed three male teenagers believed to be originally from Ethiopia at the property. Detectives believe they may have been “working the property and attending to the animals.”

Once MCSO received the information about the male teens, it then called the Arizona Department of Child Safety, which is currently conducting a separate investigation on the children, according to Enriquez. 

The ranch website identifies Pastor Mike Remington and his wife as operating the ranch. 

Mike Remington told The Arizona Republic that Dan Remington is his son and owned the animals and dealt with authorities. Mike Remington was unable to provide further details regarding Sheriff’s Office actions. He said he would convey a request for comment to his son, who had not responded as of Thursday night.

No arrests have been made and the investigation is ongoing, sheriff’s officials said.

Earlier this month, MCSO seized three malnourished horses from another property in New River unrelated to the ranch.

Sheriff Paul Penzone, in a prepared statement Thursday, thanked the community for alerting officials about the suspected animal abuse and assisting the three teens. 

“Protecting our most vulnerable people is our highest priority,” Penzone said. “Thanks to tips from the public, our detectives intervened to assist these young men and stop a horrible situation of animal neglect.”

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