Former Animal Control Officer Accused After Puppies Found Dead In Trap
Guest Contributor
The case unfolding in Silsbee, Texas around former animal control officer Joshua Nolen has raised difficult questions about animal welfare, accountability, and how local shelters are managed. Allegations of animal cruelty at an animal control shelter are deeply troubling in any community, and this situation, which involves both a charge of cruelty to non-livestock animals and a separate charge of improper euthanasia, has drawn widespread attention from residents and advocates who care about humane treatment for animals.
According to documents obtained by KFDM, Nolen already faced a charge of Improper Methods of Euthanasia after investigators reported that he used his personal .22 caliber pistol equipped with a silencer to euthanize multiple dogs under the care and custody of the Silsbee Animal Control Shelter. That allegation alone would have been serious enough to spark concern. Now, a new charge of Cruelty to Non-Livestock Animals has been filed, intensifying public scrutiny.
The cruelty charge is classified as a Class A misdemeanor. If convicted, Nolen could face up to one year in jail, a fine of up to $4,000, or both. Justice of the Peace Chris Ingram set bond at $5,000, and Justice of the Peace Rod Ousley was scheduled to arraign Nolen, at which point he could post bond for release. The earlier euthanasia charge, a Class B misdemeanor, carries a potential penalty of up to 180 days in jail and a fine of up to $2,000.
Nolen has resigned from his position as Silsbee’s animal control officer. In the wake of the allegations, Silsbee City Council is reported to be developing comprehensive new guidelines to improve how the municipal animal shelter is operated. For many observers, this step is an acknowledgment that systemic changes may be needed to ensure animals in the city’s care are treated humanely.
Details surrounding the cruelty charge emerged in a probable cause affidavit signed by Sergeant B. Rogers of the Silsbee Police Department. Rogers stated that on Friday, March 20, he became aware of a photograph that had been emailed to Police Chief Shawn Blackwell. The image showed a small animal trap containing what appeared to be four or five dead puppies. Based on his familiarity with the Silsbee Animal Shelter, Rogers believed the photograph had been taken inside the facility. Chief Blackwell had received information or correspondence suggesting that the puppies may have been drowned or otherwise killed by Nolen, leading to an investigation.
On Sunday, March 22, Rogers reached out to Nolen and asked to speak with him about the photograph. Nolen said he was not feeling well and could not travel to the police department, so the sergeant went to his home. There, according to the affidavit, Nolen confirmed that the photograph was taken at the shelter and that the puppies pictured were dead. He indicated he believed the photo had been taken by local animal rescue operator Anna Hackler.
Nolen told investigators that in February he had taken the puppies as a canine surrender from an individual who lived on Pine Street in Silsbee. He believed the surrender occurred in the middle of the week, possibly Wednesday or Thursday. Nolen said he first placed the puppies in one of the shelter bays. When he returned the next day, he said the puppies had escaped through a gap in the fence. He reported that he found them and “stuffed” them into a wire animal trap to prevent any further escapes.
When asked why a larger trap or cage was not used, Nolen reportedly said he was not sure. He noted that he had access to a pen yet chose not to use it. Instead, he said he placed the trap containing the puppies in front of the bay that had previously held them. According to the affidavit, Nolen acknowledged leaving the puppies in the trap until the following week and said he only fed them on the day he first confined them there. He told investigators that he had sprinkled a handful of dog food on top of the trap so that some pieces would fall inside.
Nolen said that when he returned to work on Monday or Tuesday, he discovered that all of the puppies were dead in the trap. When questioned about whether he had fed or arranged for someone to feed and water the puppies over the multiple days he was off work, he said he had not. He stated that he had been instructed to limit his overtime and had therefore stopped going in to feed animals over the weekend.
The affidavit further states that Nolen said city staff had initially discussed the idea that an on-call worker might assist him, but that plan never took shape. Despite this, he did not make other arrangements to ensure the animals were cared for in his absence. He reportedly told investigators that he knew the dogs at the shelter were not being fed on weekends. He added that he had studied information suggesting dogs could go extended periods, even a month or two, without food and water, and therefore he did not view feeding or watering them over the weekend as crucial. According to Rogers, Nolen went on to say that it was common practice not to provide food or water to dogs at the shelter throughout the weekend.
On Monday, March 30, Hackler met with Chief Blackwell and Sergeant Rogers at the Silsbee Police Department to discuss the photograph of the deceased puppies. In Rogers’ sworn statement, he reports that Hackler confirmed she had taken the photograph inside the animal shelter on February 15, 2026. She said Nolen had previously granted her permission to enter the shelter, and she went that day to check on the welfare of the dogs being held there.
Hackler told officers that she observed five dead puppies in a small animal trap roughly two feet long and very narrow. She stated that the puppies had no access to food or water inside the confined space. Based on these findings, investigators concluded that Nolen had unreasonably failed to provide necessary food and water to puppies in his care at the shelter.
Separate probable cause documents previously obtained by KFDM relate to the Improper Methods of Euthanasia charge. In that affidavit, a Silsbee police sergeant recounted that on Monday, March 2, he learned of possible animal cruelty allegations made by a woman named Michelle Ladner. Ladner said that on Friday, February 27, she went to the Silsbee Animal Shelter on Woodward Lane to surrender two stray dogs that she had picked up in Evadale.
While waiting for Nolen to arrive, Ladner reported discovering an area about 200 feet from the shelter that was littered with the remains of multiple dogs. According to the affidavit, the remains were found in various stages of decomposition. Ladner expressed her belief that Nolen had been illegally euthanizing dogs from the shelter and disposing of their bodies in a nearby wooded area and drainage ditch.
Officers responded to the site Ladner described and observed the remains of multiple canines scattered throughout the wooded area and floating in a drainage ditch located northwest of the shelter, approximately 100 to 200 feet away. The affidavit states that the investigation indicated Nolen had used his personal .22 caliber pistol with a silencer to euthanize multiple dogs in shelter custody. He was then charged with using improper methods of euthanasia.
As the legal process continues, Nolen is presumed innocent unless and until he is found guilty in court. At the same time, the allegations have already prompted the City of Silsbee to reconsider how its animal shelter is run. For many in the community, the idea that puppies and other dogs may have been left without food or water, or euthanized using a personal firearm rather than approved humane methods, has been deeply upsetting. The development of new, comprehensive shelter guidelines could help prevent similar situations in the future, clarify responsibilities, and ensure that animals in city care receive basic necessities such as food, water, and proper handling.
Cases like this tend to resonate far beyond a single town, in part because they touch on shared values about humane treatment of animals and public trust in local institutions. As more details come to light through court proceedings and any future public reports, residents and advocates will likely look closely at how those new guidelines are implemented and whether they bring lasting improvements in animal welfare standards at the Silsbee Animal Control Shelter.