Fake rescuer only gets 7 years prison for starving 140 dogs instead of 21 years due to overcrowding in Mississippi prison

 

UPDATE: Fake Rescuer Only Gets 7 Years for Starving 140 Dogs

A woman from Newton County, Mississippi, has been found guilty of only four felony counts of aggravated animal cruelty and three misdemeanor counts of malicious injury following a horrific case involving an estimated 140 dogs who suffered and died under her so-called “rescue.”

Natalie Nicole Fancher was sentenced to 21 years, but due to overcrowding in Mississippi prisons, she will serve just seven years, followed by three years of probation and a $2,500 fine. She also faces additional drug charges in Louisiana after serving her time in Mississippi.

Fancher was arrested on July 11, 2023, and held on a $60,000 bond after a disturbing investigation into two properties where she hoarded dogs under the name “Second Paw Dog Rescue.” She deceived individuals and shelters, leading them to believe she would care for the animals they were desperate to place.

In Defense of Animals was contacted by Newton County advocate Jackie Therrien, who asked for help rescuing what turned out to be 73 surviving dogs across two properties. As Jackie and her friends began feeding and watering the animals, they also uncovered the remains of approximately 67 others who had perished.

Justice for Animals Senior Campaigner Doll Stanley immediately reached out to Sheriff Joedy Pennington to offer assistance. He welcomed the support and committed to securing the resources needed to pursue the case.

Stanley visited the first of the two properties and described a surreal and horrifying scene: dogs lying dead in blackened metal crates, others tethered to trees, wheelbarrows, and fences, or abandoned in filthy pens.

The next morning, the director and veterinarian of the Mississippi Animal Rescue League arrived to assess the dogs’ medical needs. One dog in critical condition was rushed to a local clinic for emergency care.

In Defense of Animals, the BISSELL Pet Foundation, and other supporters covered the cost of transporting, treating, and rehoming the surviving dogs through Animal Rescue Corps.

Animal Rescue Corps, a Tennessee-based crisis response organization, brought in a regional veterinarian to help examine, vaccinate, and document the dogs. Meanwhile, Sheriff Pennington secured the crime scenes and compiled critical evidence leading to Fancher’s arrest.

It felt like a painfully long wait for a conviction. For those of us who witnessed the unimaginable suffering Fancher caused, a life sentence would have felt far more appropriate. While the sentence handed down was far too lenient for the scale of this cruelty, it was still more than many similar cases receive. We are grateful for the sheriff’s department’s professional and compassionate handling of this nightmare and for the court’s decision to keep her behind bars—at least for now.

Learn more about what we do to support animal victims of crime and how you can help.