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Resident urges Mesa to investigate alleged animal mistreatment at adoption event
Summary
Public commenter Reggie Braun told the council he observed puppies in distress at a May 2 adoption event and said officers at the scene told him the animals were "fine"; Braun asked the city to prosecute operators he identified and described prior cruelty charges against a rescue.
A local resident told the Mesa City Council on May 4 that he witnessed apparent animal distress at a May 2 adoption event and urged the city to take action. Reggie Braun, speaking during the public-comment portion of the meeting, said he observed about 14 animals at an event he associated with PetSmart and an organization he identified as Phoenix Rising and described puppies "in their own urine and puke" who were "breathing heavily in distress."
"It was obvious that the puppies were in their own urine and puke. They were breathing heavily in distress," Braun said. He said he could not reach animal-control staff over the weekend and called Mesa Police; according to Braun, officers and a supervisor told him the animals were "fine" but did not perform an inspection. Braun said he asked officers to file reports and to call a subject-matter expert, such as a K-9 unit; he said he was told that was not part of their responsibilities for that event.
Braun also told the council he believed the event was tied to an organization called Puppy Love Rescue and that the group had been charged with animal cruelty in a prior case on June 26, 2025. He said Puppy Love Rescue had presented itself as Phoenix Rising and that the group was operating out of a thrift store in Cave Creek. "I ask that this not happen in Mesa, that we protect our dogs, that we prosecute these people," Braun said.
The mayor noted state law generally prevents council from responding to matters not on the agenda; no council action was taken on Braun's allegations during the meeting. City staff did not announce any follow-up investigation on the record during the session, and no Mesa Police representative provided a statement at the meeting. Braun's assertions about prior criminal charges and corporate filings were presented by the speaker and were not verified on the council record during the meeting.
What happens next: Braun requested prosecution and urged enforcement; the council took no formal action during the meeting. Residents seeking a follow-up should direct inquiries to city staff or Mesa Police to learn whether an investigation or enforcement action is opened.
