DECATUR, Miss. (June 24, 2025) — In Defense of Animals, which operates Hope Animal Sanctuary and the Justice for Animal Campaign in Mississippi, applaud the April sentencing of a Newton County woman who was found guilty of four felony counts of aggravated cruelty and three counts of malicious injury for the suffering and deaths of what could be estimated to be 140 dogs following an investigation into Second Paw Dog Rescue.

Natalie Nicole Fancher will serve seven years of a 21-year sentence, three years of probation, and pay a $2,500 fine. She also faces drug charges in Louisiana.

Fancher was arrested on July 11, 2023, with a bond of $60,000 following an extensive on-site investigation of two properties where she collected dogs, deceiving individuals, and shelters into believing that she would provide care for the dogs they were desperate to find a haven for.

In Defense of Animals responded to a call from rescuer and advocate Jackie Therrien of Newton County seeking guidance and assistance in rescuing what would become 73 live dogs on two properties. Therrien and friends began feeding and watering the living dogs while discovering scores of remains of others.

In Defense of Animals’ Justice for Animals Senior Campaigner, Doll Stanley, contacted Sheriff Joedy Pennington to offer to organize assistance for the rescue of the dogs. He readily accepted the offer of the resources his department would need.

Seasoned animal advocate Stanley visited the first of two properties where Fancher hoarded rescued dogs. She described a surreal horror seeing perished dogs lay blackened in metal crates. Others lay tethered to trees, wheel barrels, and in pens, and fences. 

“I realized I was stunned when I fixated on the remains of a female dog and the pup who decomposed beside her. I have aided with hundreds of cruelty cases. One animal or hundreds suffer together as individuals. Viewing their plight through their individuality disturbs to the core,” Stanley shared.

The Mississippi Animal Rescue League’s director and veterinarian came the next morning to assess the dogs' urgent medical needs. A dying dog was rushed to a local veterinarian.

In Defense of Animals, the Bissell Foundation and others donated to cover the cost of the dogs’ transport, care, and adoption through Animal Rescue Corps.

Animal Rescue Corps, a crisis response organization based in Tennessee, contracted with a regional veterinarian who assisted with examining, vaccinating, and documenting the dogs. Sheriff Pennington secured the two crime scenes and compiled evidence for Fancher's arrest.

“It seemed forever waiting on a conviction. While those of us who saw and heard of the unthinkable suffering Francher put so many dogs through we would have had her locked up and the key thrown away, justice was done. We praise the sheriff’s department for their professional handling of this nightmarish case and the court for ensuring she will be locked away,” added Stanley. 

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Contacts: 

Doll Stanley, doll@idausa.org, (662) 809-4483

Tim Woodward, Animal Rescue Corps (415) 299-0021 

Images & Video: https://bit.ly/NewtonRescue

In Defense of Animals is an international animal protection organization with over 250,000 supporters and a history of protecting animals’ rights, welfare, and habitats through education and campaigns, as well as hands-on rescue facilities in California, India, South Korea, and rural Mississippi, since 1983. www.idausa.org/justice4animals

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