CEO ARRESTED After What Police Found At Her Home
(NewsReady.com) – Animal rescues are supposed to be safe havens for pets. Unfortunately, that’s not always the case, as evidenced by a horrific incident in South Carolina this month.
On June 3, Richland County police arrested 47-year-old GROWL CEO, Caroline Dawn Pennington. The arrest came less than two weeks after a search of her home that uncovered 30 dead animals in cages. Authorities said the animals likely died from dehydration and starvation. They were lying in their own waste when they passed away, stuck in cages, unable to move.
Investigators responded to a welfare check after a caller stated there was a “smell of death” emitting from Caroline Dawn Pennington's home. https://t.co/qjkZnYgYvm
— FOX 32 News (@fox32news) June 6, 2022
A spokesperson for the sheriff’s office told reporters that it seemed as though the animals, 28 dogs, and 2 cats, were left alone in their cages 7 to 9 months before they died. Sheriff Leon Lott called the situation appalling and heartbreaking, saying Pennington “betrayed the trust of [the] innocent animals [that] relied on her.”
The investigation into Pennington began after a neighbor said there was a “smell of death” coming from her home. Authorities have charged her with 30 counts of ill-treatment of animals. She’s also being investigated for unlawfully running a non-profit animal rescue.
Pennington was reportedly employed by the Kershaw County Humane Society at some point in time. It’s unclear why she left, but the organization released a statement saying it was “unaware” of her actions and “truly shocked and heartbroken.”
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