OC Woman Charged With Animal Cruelty For Throwing Malnourished Dog Over Fence, DA Says

ANAHEIM, CA — A woman captured on video throwing a poodle in a plastic bag into the backyard of an Orange County veterinary clinic was charged with felony animal cruelty and felony animal abuse, Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer said.

Anaheim resident Tyler Nashae Thompson, 30, was charged with one felony count of felony animal cruelty, one felony count of felony animal abuse by a caretaker, and one misdemeanor count of concealing or destroying evidence.

She faces a maximum sentence of three years in convicted on all counts, Spitzer said.

Thompson was accused of leaving an apartment complex in the 1700 block of Glenoaks Avenue and throwing a plastic bag over the eight-foot fence of a nearby veterinary clinic on Nov. 12 at about 1:37 a.m.

The grocery bag hit the ground, and the poodle was seen walking out of the bag as Thompson walks back into the apartment complex.

The pup was found at about 6:30 a.m., the owner of the clinic found the poodle and contacted police, Spitzer said.

According to prosecutors, the poodle is extremely malnourished, flea-infested, and was missing a tooth. The pup is currently under the care of Orange County Animal Care.

"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," 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."