Indiana rescue operator charged in dog death

Kayla Dillenburg, 30, appeared in court on Friday and pleaded not guilty to felony animal torture and fraud. She operates Welcome Home Canine Rescue from her home in Butler, Indiana, and was released on her own recognizance with a next court date set for January 2027.

The charges stem from the death of a dog named Motley, who had $925 in public pledges raised to save him from euthanasia at Indianapolis Animal Care Services. Dillenburg picked Motley up from the shelter on April 28. Records show he died and was dropped off for cremation that same day. Despite this, she told an Indianapolis donor the dog was alive and had an approved adoption lined up.

Investigators concluded that Dillenburg deceived the donor into paying for care after the animal was already dead. In court documents, she claimed Motley died of pneumonia at her home and denied euthanizing him. However, no medical records supported a diagnosis or treatment.

DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office Animal Control Officer Erika Hedge filed an affidavit of probable cause in May. The investigation began after an Indianapolis shelter volunteer noticed that dogs transferred to Dillenburg had gone missing and her social media accounts were taken offline. Court documents state that Dillenburg pulled 21 dogs from the Indianapolis shelter over a 10-day period in late April. Investigators allege she targeted animals with high financial pledges to profit from donor contributions.

A former friend of Dillenburg told deputies that Dillenburg approached her in April with a plan to make money by securing dogs with high pledge amounts. During a recorded phone call, Dillenburg admitted to choking Motley after claiming he went after her child. Hedge stated that Dillenburg knowingly and intentionally committed fraud by obtaining dogs solely to profit from their pledges.

Hedge said she believes Dillenburg recklessly tortured and mutilated the dog by strangling him to death. The affidavit focuses on Motley, but questions remain about the other 20 dogs Dillenburg acquired. Court records show the Indianapolis shelter received paperwork for only four of those animals. Dillenburg told police that a mother dog and her puppies were placed with a Michigan rescue, but she did not provide proof to verify that claim.

The investigation remains active. Hedge noted that she has received numerous calls from people coming forward with information. She could not comment on the status of the remaining animals until the case is resolved.