Animal hoarding is a legitimate issue in the United States. Each year, there are an estimated 900-2000 new cases of animal hoarding discovered in the US alone.
It often starts as a harmless need to help pets without homes, but without the proper resources, it can quickly spiral into situations in which the animals’ safety is put at risk.
It could start with two dogs who have puppies, which have puppies of their own, and before you know it, you have too many to take care of.
No one can take care of 20+ dogs on their own, so situations like this often lead to desperation.
Living conditions, pet health, resident health, and general safety deteriorate until people feel that they are out of options.
When one Coachella woman got to this point, she committed a heartless act.
Last week, Deborah Sue Culwell was caught on video throwing a bag of seven newborn puppies into a dumpster and leaving them to die.
Animal Control was thankfully contacted within the hour, saving the lives of the puppies.
If they hadn’t been found when they were, they wouldn’t have survived.
The three-day-old terrier mixes are currently in good hands and are being fostered until they are old enough to be adopted.
The three-day-old terrier mixes are currently in good hands.
They are being fostered until they are old enough to be adopted.
That age is normally around 8-9 weeks, but since they are currently separated from their mother, rehabilitation is expected to take a little longer.
The public was outraged, and people began to share the video in the hopes that the woman would be identified.
People couldn’t understand why the woman didn’t just bring the puppies to a shelter or sell them online. There are so many other options that don’t lead to the death of innocent animals.
Coachella Police were able to identify and arrest the woman.
Culwell has been charged with seven counts of animal cruelty
It seemed, for a moment, as if justice had been served.
However, when Animal Services went to her home, they discovered additional dogs.
They found 38 dogs who appeared to be in ill health, and who weren’t being properly cared for.
The house was in a state of despair.
(The Images of the dogs have been blurred)
The conditions of the home were “deplorable”. It was unclear how any animals, let alone people, could function without getting sick.
All 38 dogs had to be impounded.
John Welsh, the public informations officer for Animal Services, explained that there was no other option but to impound all 38 animals, since it was not clear who could care for them after the woman’s arrest.
Animal control officers worked late into the evening to find and properly rescue the dogs.
It was difficult to tell which dogs were healthy and which weren’t; which had been recently fed and which were critically ill.
The dogs are in “somewhat healthy condition.”
They have all been taken to Coachella Valley Animal Campus for further treatment.
They suspect that the mother of the original seven puppies may be among the found dogs.
They are working to determine whether or not a reunion can be coordinated.
This would be incredibly beneficial for the puppies, as they are only a week or so old.
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Unfortunately, the dogs cannot be put up for adoption at this time.
Animal Services released a statement clarifying that because all 38 dogs are ‘confiscated animals’, they will likely be used as evidence in the animal cruelty case against Culwell.
That means that until the case is closed, the dogs will not be able to be adopted.
It is unclear how long the case will go on for, but we’re hoping for it to be wrapped up rather quickly.
These animals deserve to be placed in homes in which they will be loved and properly cared for.
If you’d like to help, there are other dogs in similar circumstances.
Though these dogs need love, there are thousands of dogs taken out of animal hoarding situations each year who are awaiting adoption in shelters.
We sincerely hope that families are able to step up and adopt these and other dogs from similar cases who need our help now more than ever.
