Fayetteville woman pleads not guilty to animal cruelty charges

Editor’s Note: This story contains graphic depictions of animal abuse. Reader discretion is advised.

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (KNWA/KFTA) — A Fayetteville woman arrested on animal cruelty charges earlier this month has pleaded not guilty, according to Washington County Deputy Prosecutor Denis Dean.

Vikki Davidson, 36, was arrested on July 2 on 24 counts of animal cruelty.

Dean told KNWA/FOX24 that Davidson pleaded not guilty to five counts of aggravated cruelty to a dog, a class D felony, and five counts of cruelty to animals, a class A misdemeanor, during her arraignment on Monday.

According to a preliminary report, Elkins police responded to a Fayetteville home for a dog bite call on June 20. Once on the scene, police found a dog had bitten a child on the finger.

EPD found 24 dogs, including 11 newborn puppies, suffering from malnutrition and lack of water in a home. The house reportedly has no water because it had been shut off by the city a month earlier, according to the report.

Two dogs immediately had to be euthanized and one of the dogs reportedly ate a puppy.

Police said several other dogs died before they were called. One was found in a cooler and others were found buried in the yard, including one partially eaten.

There was dog feces all over the floors and an overwhelming odor of urine. Once authorities entered the house, several officers started gagging and had to leave, the report said.

Davidson was reported torturing and abusing the dogs by punching them in the head with “brass knuckles” and frying pans. She also allegedly kicked the smaller dogs, causing suspected broken bones, which “healed incorrectly,” according to the report.

The report said Davidson had been cited 13 times previously for dogs at large and having unregistered dogs

Davidson is being held in the Washington County Detention Center on a $2,500 bond, according to her booking. Her trial date has been set for January 6, 2025.

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