Douglas County authorities looking for woman wanted for animal cruelty

OMAHA, Neb. (WOWT) - The Douglas County Sheriff’s Office needs your help finding a wanted felon in connection with an animal neglect case.

DCSO says Kendra Dawkins, 38, is wanted for torture of an animal stemming from a Nebraska Humane Society animal neglect investigation. The charge is a Class 3-A Felony.

A criminal affidavit alleges Dawkins called the Humane Society last December, saying her dog was sick or dying. It was cold and unresponsive. She thought a neighbor from a previous address had poisoned the dog in retaliation for an argument over their dogs.

The dog began showing signs of illness that week. NHS prompted her to get immediate medical attention, but Dawkins told them she could not afford it. Officials found the dog emaciated and unresponsive, but then noticed random twitches and shallow breathing. The dog began having seizures as Dawkins surrendered it to NHS to receive care.

NHS reportedly noticed open wounds on the dog’s face and injuries around its head. Staff evaluated its condition and decided to euthanize the dog.

The affidavit alleges Dawkins was asked about the alleged poisoning from her neighbor. She then told officials she noticed the dog was losing weight and was in deteriorating health several weeks beforehand. A test for liver poisoning came back negative; the dog’s cause of death was ruled as starvation and nephropathy.

Dawkins is described as 5′4″, 194 pounds, with brown hair and hazel eyes, and has been sought since Feb. 20.

If you know anything, you’re asked to call the DCSO’s Fugitive Warrant Unit at (402) 599-2633.

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