On July 4th, Newport Beach police responded to reports of dogs locked inside a sweltering car. What they found was devastating: 18 dogs stuffed into wire crates and plastic carriers with no water, sitting in their own waste, and struggling in the heat. Thirteen were sick puppies fighting intestinal parasites. Two were six-week-old Golden Retriever puppies in critical condition. One of them had to be euthanized. It did not have to die.

The woman allegedly responsible, Priscilla Martin, was not running a real rescue. Prosecutors say she promoted herself on social media as the operator of a registered nonprofit called K9 Paws Rescue, Inc. But the California Attorney General's Registry of Charities and Fundraisers has no record of that organization, despite state law requiring registration to solicit donations.

She was allegedly using the appearance of animal rescue to collect money while dogs in her care suffered and died.

On July 13th, police found a dead dog whose microchip was registered to Martin. A necropsy confirmed the animal died of heat stroke, consistent with being left inside a hot vehicle. Surveillance footage allegedly shows Martin dumping the dog's body in nearby bushes. By July 22nd, she had been found with 14 more dogs inside her car.

Despite all of this, a judge released Martin without bail.

Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer has said: "The abuse of animals will never be tolerated, and anyone who engages in violence or neglect against animals will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law," according to a statement from his office. We are holding him to that promise.

Sign this petition to demand the full prosecution of Priscilla Martin and justice for every dog that suffered and died in her care.