POTTER VALLEY – A Potter Valley woman was arrested Monday for killing her puppy.

Deborah Lawrence, 44, was arrested for animal cruelty, according to Capt. Kurt Smallcomb of the Mendocino County Sheriff's Office.

On Monday afternoon Mendocino County Sheriff's Animal Control officers were dispatched to 10160 Main St. in Potter Valley regarding a possible animal cruelty investigation, Smallcomb said.

When the animal control officers arrived Smallcomb said they contacted witnesses who stated that they observed Lawrence yelling and stepping on a small Chihuahua puppy. They then observed the suspect open her car door and slammed the puppy inside the door jam causing the door to strike the puppy.

Smallcomb said other witnesses advised the officers that Lawrence had been seen holding the puppy by its neck, as well as kicking the puppy.

When the officers contacted Lawrence, she spontaneously stated, “I just accidentally killed my puppy.”

The officers then requested to view the puppy, who according to witnesses had viewed the suspect place the puppy into a blanket and then placed it into her car, Smallcomb said. The suspect gave the officers permission to enter the car and view the puppy.

The officers located a deceased, approximately 3-month-old Chihuahua wrapped in a blanket, Smallcomb said.

Lawrence subsequently was placed under arrest and booked into the Mendocino County Jail. Her bail is set at $15,000.

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