WOODVILLE – In an animal cruelty case that has received national attention, a Colmesneil woman had her bonds revoked on Monday.
Ashley Dawn McFadden, a 26-year-old Colmesneil woman, was arrested on March 12. McFadden claimed to be operating a non-profit dog rescue operation called Southeast Texas Paw Patrol. McFadden, along with her partner, Timothy Carles Brockman, 28, were both charged with felony and misdemeanor animal cruelty charges.
McFadden was on bond from an arrest in February when she and Brockman were arrested two weeks ago. When investigators arrived at her home near Colmesneil, they seized 54 dogs, which were all taken to a rescue facility in Montgomery County, Who Saved Who. Other rescue groups involved with recovery efforts on the property managed to save another 30 dogs.
Along with the negligent conditions the living dogs were found in, investigators found the remains of what is believed to be more than 100 dogs believed to have died on the property. McFadden’s bond revocation on Monday negates the $6,000 bond she was issued by Pct. 1 Justice of the Peace Tina Self following the February arrest on several misdemeanor animal cruelty charges. Reportedly, before McFadden was arrested the first time, deputies with the Tyler County Sheriff’s Office had received several calls about the dogs on the property. McFadden had contacted TCSO to get her home approved as a safe place for dogs.
McFadden’s initial bond conditions established a 21-day window to remove all of the animals from her property. McFadden was in custody on bonds totaling $70K, after the last arrest, and remains in custody at the Jasper County Jail. Brockman is in custody at the Tyler County Jail on bonds of $70K.
Tyler County Sheriff Bryan Weatherford described some of the conditions facing investigators on-site. He noted that the smell of methane, from the animals’ waste, inside of the house, was “overwhelming” and that the conditions posed “an obvious danger to any person or animal behind closed doors and windows at the residence.”
Part of the bond stipulation from February was that McFadden was to find a licensed rescue or adoption agency to place the animals with. The organization McFadden has promoted, Southeast Texas Paw Patrol, is represented by a Facebook page, as well as a parked website, with no content, however, there are no records showing the organization as a registered nonprofit.
Weatherford told the Booster last week that the investigation is ongoing, and both suspects could face additional charges, as well as other individuals.
He also wanted to acknowledge the efforts of the Who Saved Who organization, and encouraged anyone who is able to to donate or support the effort in some way. The organization’s website, located at https://www.whosavedwho.org, and has information on how to help support it.
Donations toward the initial transport and placement of the rescued dogs is being coordinated by Toni Raquel Kickertz, with the organization, and can be sent directly to her. She can be reached via Facebook.
A statement from the organization urged the public to donate, if at all possible, but noted that there have already been several individuals who have attempted to collect funds, but not involved with the rescue efforts.
Donald Calhoon, who is investigating the case for the Tyler County District Attorney’s Office, is collecting information from potential victims connected to the case. Anyone who believes they may have surrendered animals to McFadden or made donations to SETX Paw Patrol to email him at dcalhoon@co.tyler.tx.us.
