06/03/2022
This is important, I do not care what state you are in, this happens more then you think. Please know who you give your money to and who you entrust your rescued animals to.
This is heartbreaking but you need to know this DOES happen, and it’s heartbreaking 💔
This is the face of the woman accused of some of the worst animal cruelty I have covered in my career.
I have known for several weeks of the accusations against Dawn Pennington of Richland County.
Now, she’s under arrest.
And Sheriff Leon Lott is revealing what several animal advocates had brought to my attention.
Pennington has been running a Midlands animal rescue as the CEO and director. It’s known as GROWL.
She’s now charged with 30 counts of ill treatment of animals after 30 decomposing animals were found in her house.
47-year-old Caroline “Dawn” Pennington was arrested after deputies with the Richland County Sheriff’s Department responded to a call saying there was “a smell of death” coming from a home on Dibble Lane in Columbia.
When deputies went into the home, they found 30 decomposing animals (28 dogs and two cats) in cages and crates. The animals had been dead for a long time.
I have the pictures. I won’t post them. They are sickening.
No living animals were found inside the house.
Deputies said they appeared to have died from starvation and dehydration.
Sheriff Leon Lott described this as one of the worst cases of animal cruelty he has ever seen.
The animals’ bodies were found lying in their own waste and had not been moved from their cages.
“It’s appalling and it’s heartbreaking,” Lott said. “This is someone who was entrusted by the community to care for these animals and find them homes. She betrayed that trust and she betrayed the trust of these innocent animals who relied on her.”
Lott said Pennington is a well-known figure in the animal rescue community.
At the time of the incident, Pennington was employed by the Kershaw County Humane Society in addition to running GROWL.
Jamie Woodington, President of the Board of Directors for KCHS, said Pennington resigned Thursday citing unspecified personal reasons.
“At this time, to KCHS’ knowledge, her charges also do not involve any animals from the Kershaw County Humane Society, but KCHS will continue to research and work with law enforcement on this case,” said Woodington.
Woodington said the shelter was made aware of Pennington’s charges and arrest on Friday.
“Everyone at KCHS is very distraught and appalled at the charges levied on Ms. Pennington,” said Woodington. “Our sole mission is to care for all the animals that come in our doors.”
GROWL is a registered 501(c)3 non-profit organization. Investigators ask that anyone who has made documented donations to GROWL in the last 12 months to contact RCSD.
Richland County Animal Control worked side-by-side for hours with RCSD to take the dead animals out of the home.
Pennington was booked into Alvin S. Glenn Detention Center.
