The chief executive of a South Carolina animal rescue group has been arrested on 30 counts of ill-treatment of animals after authorities discovered 30 dead dogs and cats in her home, according to the Richland County Sheriffâs Department. On May 22, authorities responded to a call saying that a âsmell of deathâ was emanating from Caroline Dawn Penningtonâs home. Officials said all the animalsâfound in cages in their own wasteâseemed to have been dead of starvation and dehydration for some time. Pennington was an employee at the Kershaw County Humane Society and director of non-profit animal rescue group GROWL.