My Pet World: America's 'toughest sheriff' has a soft spot for animals
SAN DIEGO, CA. -- Sheriff Joe Arpaio, of Maricopa County, AZ, puts animals in jail -- and he's proud of it.
"I believed from the start that working with animals softens hardened criminal types," says the man who proudly touts himself as the nation's toughest sheriff, in a conversation at the Business of Saving Lives animal welfare conference Feb. 5-7, hosted by the Helen Woodward Animal Center.
By law, animals in animal abuse and dogfighting cases are often required to be kept as evidence until a judge hears the case. At that point, in many communities, such animals are euthanized. Not in Arpaio's jurisdiction.
"These animals have done nothing wrong," he says.
What's more, as shelters and rescue groups struggle to find space when animals are confiscated from hoarders, Arpaio has literally opened the local jail for them, as well as animals held as evidence. Usually, their incarceration doesn't last long, as most are adopted. While in jail, inmates help care for the dogs and cats inside, as well as horses living on the property.
In 1993, Arpaio's moved prisoners from the jail into his now famous outdoor M-A-S-H units, literally living in a tent city.
"It's 130 degrees in the summer, and we don't allow salt," says Arpaio. The sheriff touts that he's saved on the jail food budget by carefully restricting prisoners' diets. For example, no meat is served, and no condiments.
"I'm all about heath. Isn't a vegetarian diet healthy?" he asks, smiling wryly.
By law, TV must be offered to prisoners, but the law doesn't dictate what prisoners can watch. Arpaio limits their viewing.
"I am the TV Guide," he says. "They can watch the Weather Channel, (so) they know when it's going to be over 100 degrees; the Food Channel, (so) they can salivate about what they don't have, and C-Span; I believe watching all those politicians talk non-stop is the best kind of torture." Prisoners can only watch G-rated movies. Arpaio's favorites: "Lassie Come Home" and "Old Yeller."
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