Davidson County dog rescue operator charged with felony animal torture in Butler

Kayla Dillenburg, a 30-year-old animal rescue operator based in Butler, Indiana, has been charged with felony animal torture and fraud. Dillenburg ran Welcome Home Canine Rescue from her residence. Butler authorities allege she strangled a dog obtained from an Indianapolis shelter and profited from donor pledges intended for its care.

Court documents state that Dillenburg pulled 21 dogs from Indianapolis Animal Care Services between late April and May. Investigators say she specifically targeted animals that had accumulated high financial pledges from social media donors. The investigation began in May after a volunteer rescue coordinator reported that transferred dogs had gone missing and Dillenburg’s social media accounts were offline.

The charges focus on a dog named Motley, who had $925 in public pledges. Dillenburg collected Motley from Indianapolis on April 28. Records show the dog died and was dropped off for cremation that same day. Despite this, 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. However, there was no record of medical care or a diagnosis. Investigators spoke with a former friend who said Dillenburg approached her in April with a plan to make money by pulling high-pledge dogs. On a recorded phone call, Dillenburg told the friend she “choked that dog out” after claiming he went after her child.

DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office Animal Control Officer Erika Hedge filed an affidavit of probable cause. Hedge stated that Dillenburg knowingly and intentionally committed fraud by obtaining dogs from Indianapolis Animal Care and Control to profit from their pledges. Hedge also noted that Dillenburg admitted to strangling Motley in the recorded conversation.

Court records show that Indianapolis Animal Care Services received paperwork for only four of the 21 dogs. Dillenburg told police that a mother dog and her puppies were placed with a rescue in Michigan, but she did not produce paperwork to verify the claim. Officer Hedge said the investigation remains active and ongoing regarding the status of the remaining animals.

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 and is scheduled to appear in court again in January 2027.