~ Update: August 29, 2024
I heard back from the Nebraska Humane Society and learned that the mama dog’s name was Poptart. The tribute image has been changed accordingly.
(These are their shelter names. They may have new names in their homes)
I also learned the following: “The puppies came in at roughly four weeks and were fostered until they were ready for adoption. All of them, including mom, found homes. So far, none of the puppies have been returned and all appear to be in happy, healthy homes. Sadly, mom was returned with some aggressive tendencies. We worked with her, as did her adopter, but ultimately it was determined that humane euthanasia was a better option than spending her life in a shelter.”
The Douglas County Sheriff’s Office arrested 30-year-old PRESTON WOODALL (pictured), in connection with the vile abandonment of nine helpless puppies and their mom.
The incident dates back to February 14, 2024, when two residents, whom WOWT identified as Anastasia Alexander and Dona Smith, found the mama dog and her babies next to a dumpster of their apartment complex near 108th and Fort Street in Omaha. The kindhearted ladies then put the 4-week-old puppies in a box.
Ms. Alexander told WOWT: “They smelled terrible, reeked of urine, and some were covered in feces. Even the mama, you could tell, was starving, because her milk sack was flat.”
According to our Good Samaritans, a male wearing a ski mask, now identified as WOODALL, drove his car to the area, backed up the vehicle up to the dumpster, and abandoned the furfamily.
The Nebraska Humane Society took the mama dog and her babies.
The puppies were eventually adopted out, but their mom was sadly euthanized. While in a foster home, the mom reportedly displayed behavioral issues that made her unadoptable.
The Nebraska Humane Society was able to find a security camera photo of the scum to circulate among law enforcement agencies. An investigation then led to the identification of WOODALL and an arrest warrant was issued on eleven counts of animal cruelty and one count of dog unrestrained
Douglas County Sheriff’s Deputy Cindy Dmyterko told WOWT while showing security footage: “He has a mask on, so he does not want his identity shown. However, we have the vehicle and enough witness statements to say this was the gentleman who did this.”
WOODALL was taken into custody on August 26, 2024, on National Dog Day, and the circumstance that led to his arrest was very unusual.
On August 12, 2024, WOODALL had applied for a firearm purchase permit at the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office. A record check showed that WOODALL had two warrants for his arrest for the animal cruelty charges as well as not showing up to court for those charges
On August 26, 2024, WOODALL showed up at the sheriff’s office to pick his permit and found himself wearing a nice pair of handcuffs! He was then taken to Douglas County Corrections.
Douglas County Sheriff Aaron Hanson explained to WOWT that “…this case shows that anyone who comes into the office and applies for a gun permit can expect the staff and deputies to run a background check to see if there are any outstanding warrants.”
On August 27, 2024, WOODALL appeared in court and pleaded no contest to one misdemeanor count of animal cruelty and was sentenced to FIVE DAYS behind bars.
According to WOWT, “As part of the plea agreement, nine counts of the same charge, plus one similar charge, were dropped.”
On a separate note, as reported by WOWT, “This is the second jail stint in less than a year for Woodall. In October 2023, he pleaded guilty to driving with a suspended license and spent five days behind bars for that incident, too. In that case, charges for refusing to sign a traffic citation and a lack of brake lights were dropped.”
As I have been regularly posting quotes on animal cruelty on Voice For Us’ social platforms, I came across this one, “To examine whether something is humane first determine whether you would want it done to you”, by Andrea Kladar. So, I took the liberty of naming the mother dog Andrea for the tribute image.
Should her given name be made public, I will rectify it accordingly.
Voice For Us Disclaimer: This story is sourced from the press release by the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office Please note that details may be removed or new information added should updates become available.
WOODALL’s mugshot shared from the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office
