The Latest: California woman charged with dumping puppies


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COACHELLA, Calif. (AP) — The Latest on a woman arrested after police say she dumped seven newborn puppies in a dumpster (all times local):

10 a.m.

A California woman has been charged with abandoning seven palm-sized puppies authorities say she threw in a dumpster on a hot day.

The Riverside County district attorney's office on Wednesday charged 54-year-old Deborah Sue Culwell of Coachella with seven felony counts of injuring the 3-day-old puppies and seven misdemeanor counts of abandoning them. She could face a maximum seven years behind bars.

The case drew national attention after surveillance video showed a woman pulling up to a dumpster and casually tossing a bag carrying the puppies into the trash before taking off in a Jeep Wrangler on Friday.

Authorities posted the video in hopes of tracking the woman and say they found Culwell and arrested her Monday after searching the Jeep's license plate.

It's unclear if Culwell has an attorney. She has an unlisted number.

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4 a.m.

A woman has been arrested for allegedly throwing seven newborn puppies into a Southern California dumpster.

Riverside County authorities arrested 54-year-old Deborah Culwell on Monday at her Coachella home.

Surveillance video showed a woman get out of a car and drop a bag containing the pups into a dumpster behind an auto parts store on Thursday. A man rummaging for recyclables found the dogs.

KABC-TV reports that authorities believe the 3-day-old terrier mix pups might not have survived the day's 90-degree heat if they hadn't been found within an hour of being dumped.

Authorities say they found another 30 dogs at Culwell's home. They were impounded.Culwell could face charges of animal cruelty. She remained jailed and it's unclear whether she has an attorney.

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