Neighbors complained for months. Citations were ignored. He was evicted, promised to leave the state, and then acquired 33 more dogs.

Last week, police in Mesquite, Nevada seized 77 dogs from a crowded RV in a Walmart parking lot after a shopper looked through the windows and saw dozens of small white faces staring back at her. The scene she described was horrific. The smell and noise had been drawing complaints from the community since the fall.

The suspects, Giustino Laudanda and Michelle Santos, now face more than 100 animal abuse charges. But the timeline here is deeply troubling. Laudanda had been cited multiple times and did not comply. He was evicted in April. He told animal control he was leaving the state. Instead he stayed in the area — and somehow acquired 33 more dogs on top of the 77 already living in the RV. When police returned to arrest him days later, those 33 additional dogs were seized too. One dog gave birth the day after the rescue, bringing the total to 114.

These animals are now being held as evidence at the Mesquite Animal Shelter, which is overwhelmed and relying on community donations to cope.

The community showed up. Now the justice system must too.

Sign this petition to demand prosecutors pursue the maximum penalties for Giustino Laudanda and Michelle Santos and ensure neither is ever allowed to own animals again.