A woman has been arrested after she was filmed dumping seven puppies in the trash at Coachella.
The clip was recorded on Thursday and shows the woman dumping the puppies in a dumpster in 90F heat, authorities revealed in a press release. It was only thanks to a passerby that the three-day-old pups were able to survive.
This is the footage which has outraged the world:The woman can be seen walking up to a dumpster filled with recyclables, then briefly looking inside, before placing the bag containing the puppies in it. After this, she nonchalantly walks back to her jeep and drives off.
The puppies were found within an hour, Fox News reports. Had it been any longer, they likely would have died.
Riverside County Animal Service (RCDAS) Commander Chris Mayer said: "The Good Samaritan played a major role in saving these puppies' lives. His actions were humane and heroic."
"There is no excuse for dumping puppies. 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 woman who dumped the puppies, which are believed to be terrier mixes, was later identified as 54-year-old Deborah Sue Culwell. She was reprimanded for her actions by RCDAS's Chris Mayer on Monday.
There were around 30 dogs in her Coachella home, KNX1070 Los Angeles reports. All of these animals were subsequently impounded to receive proper care.
Culwell, who is arrested in the clip below, is now facing up to seven counts of felony animal cruelty, according to the RCDAS' press release:"You can clearly see the bag of puppies being dumped into the dumpster," John Welsh, the chief of the Riverside County Department of Animal Services, said in an interview with NBC LA. "There's clearly not a level of intelligence that's going to be used if you're going to toss animals."
The seven puppies are now receiving proper care at an Orange County rescue shelter, the Los Angeles Times revealed. TMZ reports that if Culwell is found guilty of the charges brought against her, she could face up to six years in jail.
