The woman who ditched a bag of puppies in a dumpster has been arrested, and police now know those weren't the only dogs she put in danger. Deborah Sue Culwell, 54, was arrested Monday night and is charged with seven felony counts of animal cruelty. The Department of Animal Services in Riverside County, California, reported that she was arrested at her Coachella home after surveillance footage of her dumping the pups was used to identify her by her license plate. When they arrived at her home, animal control officers found "the house was overrun with other dogs," according to the county press release. They found 38 dogs at the residence and "most of the dogs appeared to be in somewhat healthy condition, but some were aggressive or fearful," the county's release states, adding that the “house was in a state of disrepair." ABC News was unable to reach Culwell, and it is unclear if she has an attorney. Animal services is now working to determine if the mother dog of the dumped pups, who were believed to be about three days old when they were found on April 18, is among the 38 dogs found at Culwell’s home. Those dogs have been confiscated. If the mother dog is found, authorities will determine "whether a reunion can be coordinated," the release states. In the meantime, the abandoned pups are in foster care and a volunteer has been bottle-feeding them. They were first found by a man identified by the Department of Animal Services by his first name, John, who they said found the dogs in the dumpster and brought them to a nearby auto body shop. "The Good Samaritan played a major role in saving theses puppies’ lives," Animal Services commander Chris Mayer said in an update on their website, noting that temperatures were in the 90s on the day the puppies were found. “His actions were humane and heroic."<doc-sep>A woman allegedly caught on camera tossing seven live puppies into a Coachella, Calif., dumpster last week has been arrested. Deborah Sue Culwell, 54, was taken into custody Monday by Commander Chris Mayer of the Riverside County Department of Animal Services (RCDAS) after harrowing footage of the incident went viral over the weekend, according to a statement. CNN reports that 38 dogs, which were "not in great condition" nor friendly, were found living in Culwell's home at the time of her arrest. RCDAS spokesperson John Welsh said Culwell may face up to seven counts of felony animal cruelty. The suspect was allegedly videotaped pulling up in a white Jeep near some large trash receptacles behind a Napa Auto Parts store around 1 p.m. on Thursday. She was seen exiting the car and tossing a white plastic bag into one of the bins. A concerned passerby who witnessed the incident fished out the bag and brought the 3-day-old puppies into the auto parts store. An employee called RCDAS and officer Jose Cisneros responded to retrieve the pups — believed to be terrier mixes — around 2 p.m. All of the newborns miraculously survived. Officials believe the pups would likely not have survived much longer in the mid-90-degree weather if the passerby, identified only as John, had not intervened. "The Good Samaritan played a major role in saving [the] puppies’ lives," Commander Mayer said. "His actions were humane and heroic." Mayer also condemned Culwell's alleged behavior as "despicable." "There is no excuse for dumping puppies," he said. "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."<doc-sep>
Deborah Sue Culwell. Photo: Riverside County Department of Animal Services On Thursday April 18, surveillance cameras captured video of a woman throwing seven three-day-old puppies in a dumpster near Coachella in the heat of the California desert. The puppies were found by a man rummaging through the trash, who put them next to a storefront, where they were later rescued by a different good samaritan. Luckily, the puppies survived the incident, but law enforcement still sought out the woman who left the tiny creatures to die. According to the Los Angeles Times, a woman named Deborah Sue Culwell was arrested at her home on Monday by officers from the Riverside County Department of Animal Services after they reviewed the surveillance footage. When they searched the premises, they reportedly found an additional 38 dogs living on the property, which was described as run-down and dirty. Officers at the scene that the dozens of dogs seemed to be in “somewhat healthy condition,” per the Times, though some did appear to be afraid or aggressive. They are still trying to determine if any of dogs found at Culwell’s home was the mother the puppies that were thrown in the dumpster. At this time, all of the dogs found in Culwell’s home are not available for adoption because they are considered to be confiscated property. Culwell is being held in Indio County jail, according to the Times. “There is no excuse for dumping puppies,” Riverside County Animal Services Commander Chris Mayer said in a statement. “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.”