The Anaheim woman accused of hurling a seriously injured dog in a plastic bag over a fence is being held on $50,000 bail, authorities said Thursday.
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Tyler Nashae Thompson, 30, was charged Nov. 19 with one count of felony animal cruelty, one count of felony animal abuse by a caretaker, and one misdemeanor count of concealing or destroying evidence, according to the Orange County District Attorney's Office. Thompson would face a maximum sentence of three years behind bars if convicted on all counts.
On Thursday, authorities released more details about the case, which has sparked outrage among officials and animal lovers.
Thompson is accused of exiting an apartment complex in the 1700 block of Glenoaks Avenue at 1:37 a.m. on Nov. 12 and throwing a plastic bag over the 8-foot fence of a nearby veterinary clinic. The grocery bag hit the ground, and a white poodle is seen walking out of the bag as Thompson walks back into the apartment complex, officials said.
At about 6:30 a.m., the director of the clinic arrived at work to find the poodle and contacted the Anaheim Police Department after watching his surveillance footage.
Officials said the poodle is extremely malnourished, flea-infested, and was missing a tooth.
Dr. Ash Hakhamian said the dog sustained injuries to the face.
"He face-planted," Hakhamian told ABC7. "That's what broke his fall, was his face."
"I can't find words to describe why anybody would do something like that, and it's hard to find the right words," Hakhamian told numerous broadcast television news organizations. "I mean, thrown is an understatement. He sustained mental trauma, even far beyond his physical trauma."
According to the clinic, the dog -- which Fox11 reported is a male Maltese mix -- is "receiving around the clock care to ensure he is recovering from both his injuries and ongoing medical needs."
In addition to the trauma and severe bruising, Hakhamian says the dog was severely anemic, malnourished and was covered in fleas.
"His nails are so long, they have curled and gone back into his paw," he said. "That's a type of neglect that proceeds this trauma, it proceeds this abuse."
The OCDA's office said Thursday that the poodle was seized by OC Animal Care, which is currently caring for the dog.
"This poor dog was subjected to unimaginable suffering by someone who was supposed to care for her. Only the truly depraved would make the decision to abuse an animal who has no way to protect itself and then throw it away like a piece of trash," Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer said. "The abuse of any defenseless animal will not be tolerated and those who engage in violence against animals will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law."
Thompson was arrested Wednesday, according to Sgt. Matt Sutter of the Anaheim Police Department. She is scheduled to be arraigned on Monday.
While Hakhamian believes the dog will recover from his injuries, he feels there was no excuse for discarding an animal in this fashion.
"There are so many rescue groups in Southern California," he told Fox11. "There's no excuse to throw a dog in a grocery bag and toss it over a fence."
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