A Tyler woman is facing six animal cruelty charges after police say they found six badly malnourished dogs, including three puppies, living in filthy conditions inside her apartment. The details come from an affidavit KETK obtained through a Smith County records request.
A Welfare Check Leads to a Disturbing Discovery
Tyler police went to an apartment at 5621 Old Bullard Road on Nov. 4 for a welfare check. People had reported that the resident, Haley Brown, hadn’t been seen since late September or early October.
The property manager also told officers they were worried that at least two dogs had been left behind, because a strong smell of urine and feces was coming from the unit.
An officer went to the apartment with maintenance staff and could smell the odor right away. According to the affidavit, the smell had spread into the apartment next door, and it was even stronger there.
What Officers Saw Through the Blinds
Officers then checked the back patio and spotted at least four dogs. Looking through the blinds on the back door, they could see urine, feces and piles of trash, and the smell was worse near the patio.
Police contacted Brown, who came to the complex. According to the affidavit, she admitted there were six dogs inside.
Dogs Showed Signs of Severe Starvation
Once the dogs were brought outside, officers watched them eat grass, dirt and trash. Three of the six were puppies, and all three showed signs of extreme malnutrition.
The affidavit describes the puppies’ ribs as plainly visible. Two of them were so thin that officers could see the ribs from a distance, with deep hollows between the bones and hip bones sticking out sharply. Officers wrote that all six dogs had stomachs pulled tight up against their chests, giving them a hollow look.
A History of Illness, According to Brown
Brown told officers that one of the dogs once had a brother that died of parvovirus in 2025. She said there were originally seven puppies and that they all caught parvo. She believed the virus had stayed in the home after the earlier dog died. Four of the puppies died and three survived.
According to the affidavit, Brown said she kept the dogs because she had trouble finding new homes for them. She also didn’t want to give them up to what she called a “kill shelter.” She allegedly told officers she mostly stayed at her partner’s home and only came back to the apartment to check on the dogs.
When officers asked how often the dogs got to go outside, she reportedly said only a couple of times a month.
Inside the Apartment
When officers went inside, the affidavit says they found trash, feces and urine in layers across the whole apartment. There was so much debris that the doors were hard to open. The dogs had no clean place to stand, sit, sleep or eat, and officers found feces packed between their paw pads.
Several food bowls were empty. Officers decided the apartment was not fit for animals to live in.
Charges Filed
Brown was arrested and charged with six counts of cruelty to non-livestock animals, one count for each dog. These are allegations, and she is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.
The Bottom Line
A welfare check at a Tyler apartment led police to six starving dogs living in filth. Haley Brown now faces six animal cruelty charges. The case is a reminder that pet owners who are struggling to care for their animals have options, including local rescue groups and rehoming services, that can help before an animal suffers.