On the night of October 22, El Paso County Sheriff’s deputies pulled over a minivan on Interstate 10 East. Inside, they found 72 exotic animals: 56 tortoises, 11 hedgehogs, two kinkajous, two guinea pigs and a caracal, a type of wild cat.

Many of the animals were crammed into containers too small for them to move around in. Deputies reported piled-up waste, poor airflow and no food or water within reach. The animals had been driven across several states this way.

This was not the driver’s first run-in with the law over animals. Deputies say they found licensing violations and restrictions connected to an earlier animal cruelty arrest in Florida. Even so, dozens of animals ended up in her care and on the road again.

The 48-year-old driver now faces five counts of cruelty to non-livestock animals, with bond set at $10,000. That is five charges for 72 animals.

The El Paso County District Attorney’s Office has the power to review the full evidence and pursue every charge it supports. Federal wildlife officials have also been contacted to check for additional violations. A strong outcome should include a court-ordered ban on owning, breeding or selling animals, so that a cruelty case in one state cannot simply be left behind by crossing into the next.

All 72 animals were surrendered and moved to facilities equipped to care for them. They are safe for now. Whether the next group of animals is safe depends on how seriously this case is handled.

Sign the petition to urge the El Paso County District Attorney to pursue full charges and seek an animal ownership ban, before more animals end up packed in crates on the highway.