An Orange County woman was charged with animal cruelty after at least two dogs died in her care and dozens more were found in dire conditions across the region, the Orange County District Attorney’s Office said Friday.
An investigation into 33-year-old Priscilla Martin began on the Fourth of July when Newport Beach police got a call about multiple dogs locked inside a vehicle.
Officer found 18 dogs inside Martin’s car, with many of them being covered in feces without water inside crates and plastic carriers, the district attorney’s office said. Most of the dogs found were puppies, including two six-week-old Golden Retrievers who were in critical condition due to untreated parasites. One of the Golden puppies had to be put down due to the illness, the DA’s office said.
Then more than a week later on July 13, police in Irvine found a dead dog whose microchip returned to Martin. When officers with the Irvine Police Department checked out security camera footage, they found Martin pulling into a parking lot, dragging the dead dog out of her car and leaving it in the bushes. A veterinarian later determined the dog died of heat stroke, possibly after being left in a hot car.
Finally earlier this week on July 22, Martin was found in Costa Mesa with 14 additional dogs in her car.
The district attorney’s office said, despite advertising that she operates K9 Paws Rescue, Inc. (or Canine Paws Rescue, Inc.), her organization was not registered with the California Attorney General’s Registry of Charities and Fundraisers.
The woman was charged with three felony counts of animal cruelty by a caretaker, 11 misdemeanor counts of animal cruelty by a caretaker, and one misdemeanor count of putting the carcass of a dead animal on the road. She faces a maximum sentence of 15 years and 10 months in state prison if convicted on all counts, according to the district attorney’s office.
The woman pleaded not guilty to all charges.
Despite the DA’s office requesting Martin be held on $50,000 bail, a judge ordered her to be released without having to post bail, the DA’s office added. While being out, the woman is prohibited from having access to any animals.
“Every living being deserves a safe home with the basic necessities of life. Despite our compassion for the homeless, it does not excuse subjecting defenseless animals to inhumane conditions,” said Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer. “The abuse of animals will never be tolerated, and anyone who engages in violence or neglect against animals will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”