The woman accused of dumping seven newborn puppies into a dumpster at Coachella has been arrested.
The woman, identified as Deborah Sue Culwell, 54, was arrested Monday, though details on the arrest are still sparse. Surveillance video captured a white Jeep pull up behind the store at 49251 Grapefruit Blvd. as a woman exited with a plastic bag. The video then shows the woman dumping the bag between trash cans. Inside the bag were seven puppies, all about three days old and believed to be terrier mixes.
An employee at the store contact animal services after a passerby discovered the bag next to the trash while rummaging through the trash. “The Good Samaritan played a major role in saving theses puppies’ lives,” Department of Animal Services Commander Chris Mayer said. “His actions were humane and heroic.”
Temperatures ranged in the mid-90s when the woman abandoned the puppies, animal services said. “There is no excuse for dumping puppies,” Mayer said. “Especially in today’s age when we or other shelters would be willing to get these animals to foster parents or rescue partners. This was a shameful act.”
The puppies were cared for by animal services and will be taken in by MeoowzResQ, a Southern California rescue specializing in kittens and cats, to continue the puppies' care.
(Photo credit reporting partner 10News)