What was supposed to be a safe haven for unwanted dogs in rural East Texas is now at the center of a disturbing cruelty investigation, with local rescuers and Tyler County authorities describing a scene they say looked more like a mass neglect case than an animal rescue.
Rescue groups and Tyler County investigators say they removed more than 80 dogs from the property of a rural animal rescue after finding animals kept in cages with no food, no water and no flooring. Officials say they fear more than 100 dogs may have died under the group's care. The woman who ran the rescue, 25-year-old Ashley McFadden, and her boyfriend, Timothy Brockman, are under investigation as authorities work to count the survivors and identify any deceased animals. Volunteers who rushed in to help described emaciated dogs and confusion as groups scrambled to find room in already crowded area shelters.
As reported by FOX 26 Houston, the Tyler County Sheriff's Office seized 54 dogs from the site, while Houston-area rescue groups and transporters retrieved about 30 more. Officials say that puts the number of animals saved at just over 80. Investigators told FOX 26 the case centers on a rescue operating as Southeast Texas Paw Patrol, and that the Tyler County District Attorney's Office is involved in the ongoing probe.
"The dogs were all in cages with no liners or bottoms, no food, no water. Just waiting to die in this crate," volunteer Tina Nedd told FOX 26 Houston. Transporter Mary McElhamon, who said she had delivered about 30 animals to the rescue, returned to retrieve them after learning about the conditions. Donald Calhoun, an investigator with the Tyler County DA's Office, called the case "heartbreaking," according to FOX 26.
How the Rescue Presented Itself
The organization identified itself online as SETX Paw Patrol, according to its Linktree page, which lists Venmo and PayPal donation options, adoption and foster forms and a website. Volunteers and investigators say they are now poring over transfer paperwork, adoption records and donation logs to trace where animals came from and where they ultimately went. Rescues that helped pull dogs from the property say many of the survivors need immediate medical treatment and longer-term foster placements.
Community Calls For Accountability
A petition titled "Get justice for the dogs at SETX Paw Patrol Rescue," created on March 8, 2026, has collected several hundred signatures from people who say they surrendered animals to the rescue, according to Change.org. The petition lays out descriptions of emaciated dogs, filthy conditions and alleged unreported deaths and helped galvanize volunteers to locate and remove animals from the property.
What Investigators Say
Tyler County investigators say the probe is still active, and they are coordinating with Houston-area rescues to triage and place the surviving animals. Prosecutors have not announced any criminal charges, and investigators are asking anyone who dealt with the rescue to contact the Tyler County District Attorney's Office with information.
Local rescue leaders say the episode highlights the risks that volunteer networks face when moving animals across county lines and the importance of careful documentation and follow-up. For now, area shelters are urging patience as the dogs receive medical care and volunteers work to find permanent homes for the survivors.
