COACHELLA, Calif. (KGTV) -- The woman arrested for dumping puppies in a trash can in Coachella was sentenced to a year in jail, according to KABC.
Deborah Sue Culwell, 59, pleaded guilty to animal cruelty and abandonment charges.
Culwell was arrested after surveillance video captured a white jeep pull up behind a store on the 49000 block of Grapefruit Boulevard as a woman exited with a plastic bag.
The video then shows the woman dumping the bag between trash cans.
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Inside the bag were seven puppies, all about three days old and believed to be terrier mixes.
An employee at the store contact animal services after a passerby discovered the bag next to the .
“The Good Samaritan played a major role in saving theses puppies’ lives,” Department of Animal Services Commander Chris Mayer said. “His actions were humane and heroic.”
“There is no excuse for dumping puppies,” Mayer added. “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.”
All but one of the puppies survived, according to KABC.
