Warning: This story contains references to alleged animal cruelty that some readers might find disturbing.
WOODVILLE – Investigators with the Tyler County District Attorney’s Office and deputies with the Tyler County Sheriff’s Office made a discovery last week, while serving a warrant, of large-scale animal cruelty. Law enforcement seized 54 dogs and transported them to the Sheriff’s Office.
According to Sheriff Bryan Weatherford, investigators were able to obtain and serve a seizure warrant on a charge of animal cruelty and arrest of Ashley Dawn McFadden, 26 and Timothy Carles “TC” Brockman, 28.
Mc Fadden was on bond from an arrest in February on cruelty charges. One of the bond conditions ordered her to have all dogs removed from her property to be rehomed to a licensed rescue/adoption agency within 21 days.
Weatherford said that investigators with the DA’s office walked McFadden’s property, located off of County Road 2780 near Colmesneil, on Monday, March 9, and documented nine dogs in kennels. They smelled something that they believed to be a deceased animal, which they discovered was a dog’s carcass. These discoveries, Weatherford said, were enough to show McFadden being in violation of her bond condition. Pct. 1 Justice of the Peace Tina Self granted the investigators’ request for a seizure order for the animals, which was executed on Thursday, March 12.
When investigators arrived, they discovered Brockman, who is McFadden’s partner, with whom they presented the seizure paperwork. When they began gathering up the dogs on the property, they observed plastic totes, several dog crates and an ice cooler; items which they discovered contained dog carcasses in states of advanced decomposition and wrapped in plastic. Brockman told the investigators on the scene that it was his responsibility to bury dead dogs but had not been doing so. Some reports indicate that as many as 100 deceased dogs were discovered on the property.
Eleven dogs were housed in wire kennels inside an outbuilding, and there was a dog chained near that building. “Food and water appeared to be available for some of the dogs in the kennels outside the residence, but many did not have either,” Weatherford said.
Inside the home, Weatherford said, the lawmen were able to remove close to 40 dogs. He noted that the smell of methane, resulting from canine feces, was “overwhelming.”
“Dog waste was in every room, inside and outside the kennels, and numerous wet areas believed to be urine. It was an obvious danger to any person or animal behind closed doors and windows at the residence,” Weatherford said.
McFadden and Brockman are both in custody at the Tyler County Jail, on bonds totaling $70,000, apiece, on felony and misdemeanor animal cruelty charges. Weatherford said that they, along with others, could face additional charges, as this is an ongoing investigation.
Several groups and animal welfare volunteers throughout the region have been busy coordinating emergency foster placements and medical treatment for the dogs that were removed, as many were in need of immediate veterinary care.
McFadden has been active in promoting “SETX Paw Patrol,” which, according to its Facebook page is a non-profit animal rescue, and for which she is listed as the primary point of contact. In February, when deputies with TCSO first responded to complaints that had been received about the conditions at McFadden’s residence, there were 50 dogs observed, but no deceased dogs were discovered then. Some of the dogs were observed as healthy. At that time, according to Weatherford, the deputies believed the situation could be quickly rectified if immediate changes were made.
Donald Calhoon, who is investigating the case, with the DA’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.
Weatherford said that the 54 dogs TCSO seized were released for placement to a Montgomery County-based organization, Who Saved Who. “With their help, the dogs will be given proper care and medical attention as needed,” he said. The organization’s website, located at https://www.whosavedwho.org, has information for those who wish to donate, or support it in some way.
A statement from Who Saved Who asked that anyone with information to assist the investigation come forward, if possible, with before and after photos of animals surrendered to SETX Paw Patrol. “We are…incredibly grateful to the many rescues and volunteers who have stepped up to help these animals,” the organization stated. 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.
Other rescues that reportedly took part in the removal and placement of the dogs include Lotta Dogs Rescue and Green Mile Dogs Rescue. Reports state that in addition to the 54 seized by TCSO, in total, nearly 100 were removed.
