- “Smell of death” call results in Humane Society worker’s arrest.

An animal rescue director in Columbia, South Carolina, has been charged with 30 charges of animal cruelty. Carolina Dawn Pennington, 47, was detained by the Richland County Sheriff's Department on Friday after she allegedly turned herself in.

Pennington is the founder and director of GROWL, a non-profit animal rescue. Pennington was working for the Kershaw County Humane Society and operating GROWL at the time of the incident, according to deputies.

Deputies said they received a complaint on May 22 reporting a "smell of death" coming from a Columbia home. When deputies arrived, they confirmed the stench and went inside the house, where they discovered a disturbing and serious case of animal mistreatment, according to investigators.

According to the sheriff's office, thirty deceased animals were discovered in cages and crates, including 28 dogs and two cats. The animals had been dead for a long time and appeared to have perished of dehydration and malnutrition. The creatures were coated in their own filth, and the sheriff's office suspects they died in their cages before being discovered by deputies.

The animals were removed from the home with the help of Richland County Animal Control and the Richland County Sheriff's Department.

With more and more reports like these from these so-called “rescues” and “humane societies” it’s no surprise that these are the same people that want to end pet shop sales. That just makes no sense.

Experts say it’s time to regulate rescues and shelters. According to the United States Department of Agriculture;