Woman arrested after police confiscated 24 dogs from her home

FAYETTEVILLE, Arkansas — Editor’s Note: This story contains graphic descriptions of animal cruelty.

According to a probable cause report, officers with the Elkins Police Department (EPD) seized 24 malnourished dogs from a residence in Fayetteville on June 20.

Vikki Davidson, 36, was arrested July 2 and booked into the Washington County Jail on 24 counts of animal cruelty. She is being held on $10,000 bail.

A family renting rooms in Davidson’s home reportedly contacted police after one of Davison’s 24 dogs bit a teenager in the house on June 20.

“Officers were aware of this residence as there had been numerous complaints in the past regarding loose dogs, unsanitary conditions and drug activity,” the report said.

According to the report, Davidson had 13 encounters with loose and unregistered dogs. Before his most recent arrest, Davidson had 15 prior convictions, according to the Washington County Sheriff’s Office.

The dog that allegedly bit the teenager had “numerous puncture wounds to the face and head consistent with a fight with another dog in the same home,” the report said.

Among the 24 dogs were 11 newborn puppies. Davidson is accused of keeping all the dogs in one room of the house “for days.” When she let them out, they defecated and urinated “all over the house,” according to the report.

The family reportedly told police that Davidson lived at the residence but was gone for several days at a time.

The report accuses Davidson of feeding the dogs uncooked rice and beans instead of dog food, which caused several dogs to become sick and die. The family also said Davidson failed to pay the water bill, and because the house had no running water for over two weeks, the dogs were without water “for a long period of time.”

The family told police that Davidson also abused and “tortured” the dogs by hitting them on the head with brass knuckles and frying pans and kicking the smaller dogs, the report said.

A man who lived legally in the house allowed officers to enter the house.

“Upon entering the home, several officers began choking and had to leave the home to avoid vomiting,” the report said.

According to the report, there was dog feces on the floor, an overwhelming smell of urine, and trash throughout the common areas and rooms where the dogs were kept.

“The house and rooms were deemed too unsanitary for any living conditions for animals or humans,” the report said. “The house was in such poor condition that it had to be boarded up and all living creatures removed for health and safety reasons.”

Police confiscated 24 malnourished dogs from the house. Two of the dogs had to be “immediately put down.”

Upon further investigation, officers reportedly found additional dead dogs on the property. According to the report, officers discovered a shallow grave in which a small dog was buried, which had reportedly been partially eaten by the other dogs.

“Another dog was found dead in a plastic bag in a red cooler on the side of the house,” the report said.

Davidson is scheduled to appear in court on July 22.

According to the police, a hearing is pending regarding the possible expropriation of the house.

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