South Carolina Police Arrests Animal Rescue CEO and Director in an Ironic Case of Animal Cruelty

South Carolina police officers arrested the CEO and director of an animal rescue group after a total of 30 cats and dogs were found dead inside her house.

The arrest reportedly came as part of a "welfare check" operation following a complaint that the property had a "smell of death."

The incident is being treated as an ironic case of animal cruelty since the arrested individual involved belongs to an organization that advocates for animal rights and animal welfare.

In addition, the suspect is also reportedly a "known figure" in the animal rescue community.

The arrest adds to the list of growing cases of animal cruelty and animal abuse across South Carolina and the United States.

Governed by an existing animal law, related incidents are treated as a criminal offense in the US, where a convicted individual can face either heavy fines or jailtime.

Welfare Check Arrest

(Photo : Photo by MUNIR UZ ZAMAN/AFP via Getty Images)

The operation on Friday, June 3, led to the arrest of Caroline Dawn Pennington, 47, the head of the South Carolina-based non-profit organization GROWL, according to a statement of the Richland County Sheriff's Department (RCSD) in a news release, as cited by NBC News.

Officials stated Pennington was charged with 30 counts relating to ill treatment of animals.

Among the dead animals, 28 dogs and two cats, were found in a state of decomposition stuck in cages and crates inside her house.

The South Carolina Police first conducted their welfare check at Pennington's home in the state capital city of Columbia on May 22.

The tip off was from an undisclosed call, indicating a foul smell was coming from the property.

Also Read: Mass Deaths of Koalas in Australia Prompt Animal Cruelty Charges

Initial Investigation

During the initial investigation, the RCSD believed the animals died from dehydration and starvation.

The decomposing animals were also seen lying in their own waste as officers entered the home.

The time of death of both cats and dogs is not certain.

However, investigators reportedly estimated they could be dead for a "significant amount of time" and RCSD Sheriff Leon Lott called the unprecedent discovery to be one of the worst cases of extreme animal cruelty he has seen, as cited by NBC News.

Animal Trainer Arrested

In a related case of animal cruelty, Netflix's "Tiger King" docuseries star Bhagavan Antle was arrested in South Carolina on June 3.

Also called Kevin Antle or Doc Antle, the 62-year-old American animal trainer was taken into custody by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) last Friday afternoon.

He was later booked in the Horry County jail in the same night, according to New York Daily News.

Antle was placed in the spotlight during the Netflix docuseries release in 2019.

Doc Antle fans also got to know more about the high-profile animal trainer in the "Tiger King: The Doc Antle Story," which also came out in December 2021.

South Carolina has existing laws and ordinances pertaining to the rights and welfare of dogs and cats in general, according to the Charleston Animal Society, an animal protection organization based in North Charleston, South Carolina.