Operation FreeFall brings dogs, cats, a rabbit and goat to safety after emergency intervention in Chester County

NASHVILLE, Tenn., Oct. 1, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Animal Rescue Corps (ARC), a national nonprofit animal protection organization, launched Operation FreeFall Sept. 26 after responding to an urgent request from law enforcement in rural Chester County, Tennessee, to assist with an animal cruelty case.

ARC removed 24 surviving animals from the property, including 12 dogs, 10 cats and kittens, one rabbit and one goat. Many were emaciated, chained or confined in small, dirty enclosures. Investigators also discovered the remains of multiple animals.

One dog, Joleen, was rushed directly from the scene for emergency hospitalization. She required a blood transfusion and is being treated for heartworm disease, Caval syndrome, anemia, ehrlichiosis, intestinal parasites, severe flea infestation and fluid buildup in her abdomen. She remains under veterinary care and is expected to stay hospitalized for several more days as she receives treatment and supportive care.

ARC's rescue team worked alongside law enforcement to remove the surviving animals while documenting conditions and collecting evidence to support the ongoing investigation.

"When you step onto a property like this, you see what prolonged suffering looks like," said ARC Executive Director Tim Woodward. "You see animals who have been lacking even the necessities to sustain life. But then you get to put your hands on them, carry them out and know that whatever happened before that moment is over. That's why we do this work."

The animals are now receiving veterinary examinations, treatment and individualized care. Some will require significant medical attention and rehabilitation before they are ready for placement with ARC's trusted shelter and rescue partners.

Operation FreeFall is part of ARC's work helping law enforcement agencies and communities respond to animal cruelty cases that require more personnel, veterinary support or temporary sheltering than they can provide on their own.

"What happened to these animals should never happen to any living being," Woodward said. "Take Joleen. She's been through so much, but she's fighting hard. She came to us in critical condition, and now she's getting the best chance possible. We're going to stay with her and every one of these animals for as long as they need us."ARC will continue caring for the animals while the cruelty investigation proceeds.

More information about ARC's work and how to support its ongoing rescue efforts is available at animalrescuecorps.org/.

About Animal Rescue Corps

Since 2010, Animal Rescue Corps (ARC), a national animal protection nonprofit organization, has provided large-scale animal rescue for communities that lack resources to address abuse. In addition to emergency rescue, ARC offers education and shelter relief. ARC's mission is to end animal suffering through direct and compassionate action and to inspire the highest ethical standards of humanity towards animals. In 2025, ARC Executive Director Tim Woodward was honored as a CNN Hero and selected as one of five finalists for the CNN Hero of the Year award. To learn more about Animal Rescue Corps, visit animalrescuecorps.org/.

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SOURCE Animal Rescue Corps