Rescue operator charged in dog death

Kayla Dillenburg, 30, a resident of Butler, Indiana, faces felony charges for the death of a dog she acquired from an Indianapolis shelter. Authorities say Dillenburg, who operated Welcome Home Canine Rescue from her home, strangled the animal and later collected money from donors who believed it was alive.

Court documents state that Dillenburg pulled 21 dogs from Indianapolis Animal Care Services over a 10-day period in late April. Investigators allege she specifically targeted dogs with high financial pledges raised by social media supporters. The criminal charges focus on a dog named Motley, who had $925 in public pledges for his care.

Records indicate Dillenburg picked up Motley from Indianapolis on April 28. That same day, records show the dog died and was dropped off for cremation. Dillenburg told an Indianapolis donor that Motley was alive and had an approved adoption lined up. Investigators concluded she deceived the donor into paying for care after the animal was already dead. Dillenburg claimed Motley died of pneumonia at her home and denied euthanizing him.

The investigation began in May when a volunteer rescue coordinator for IACS raised concerns about missing dogs and offline social media accounts. DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office Animal Control Officer Erika Hedge filed the affidavit of probable cause. Hedge noted that a former friend of Dillenburg described a scheme to profit from high-pledge dogs in April. On a recorded phone call, Dillenburg admitted to the friend that she choked the dog after it went after her child.

Officer Hedge stated that Dillenburg knowingly and intentionally tortured and mutilated the dog by strangling it. Hedge added that Dillenburg committed fraud by obtaining dogs from Indianapolis Animal Care and Control for the sole purpose of making a profit from their pledges. While the affidavit directly addresses Motley’s death, advocates still have questions about the other 20 animals. Court records confirm IACS received paperwork for only four of the 21 dogs. Dillenburg told police a mother dog and her puppies were placed with a rescue in Michigan, but investigators noted she never produced paperwork to verify the claim.

Dillenburg appeared before a judge on Friday. She entered a plea of not guilty, and a public defender was appointed to represent her. She was released on her own recognizance. Hedge said she has received numerous calls from people coming forward with information as news of the charges spread. Dillenburg is scheduled to appear in court again in January 2027.