Martin Benavidez hung a puppy by his leg.

TAKE ACTION: PLEASE CONTACT

• Tiffany Davila – Public Information Officer tiffany.davila@pinalcountyaz.gov And ask that Martin Benavidez be prosecuted to the fullest extent and remind her that people like this do not stop at animals.
• Also contact Allison Lance if you would be interested in going to court if this goes to trial
• Allison 360-298-0368 or email allisonlance1@gmail.com
• The monster Martin Benavidez’s address is in the 9900 block of Asbury Lane San Tan Valley, AZ 85143

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SAN TAN VALLEY — A 51-year-old Pinal County  man has been arrested on animal cruelty charges after hanging a 6-month-old puppy by its hind legs, authorities said.

The Pinal County Sheriff’s Office said Martin Benavidez was arrested June 16 in the 9900 block of Asbury Lane in San Tan Valley after a neighbor reported hearing a dog whimpering.

The neighbor told PCSO deputies she went outside and saw the dog hanging upside down and whimpering in pain in her neighbor’s horse stable.

“When deputies arrived, they found the dog cowering under a table in a covered horse pen,” said Sheriff Paul Babeu in a statement. “It was no longer hanging, but was clearly injured, as it could not walk.”

Benavidez told deputies he was training the dog, a Queensland Heeler, but denied hurting the him.

“This is a horrific case of animal abuse and for the owner to think he was training the dog is absurd,” Babeu said. “The dog was being tortured, not trained.”

The PCSO said an animal control officer took custody of the dog and helped document the animal’s injuries, which included swelling and rope marks on its hind legs. The owner relinquished custody of the dog.

The dog is recovering at the Pinal County Animal and Control Shelter.

“I find it deplorable for a person to think that blatant animal cruelty is training a dog,” said Pinal County Animal Control Director Audra Michael. “He should now know that it won’t be tolerated here in Pinal County. The dog is with us and is recovering from the injuries.”

Michael said shelter employees have named the dog “Spur.”

“We’re confident that Spur will never suffer from abuse again,” Michael said.