WENDELL, N.C. (WNCN) — Wake County Animal Control is continuing to investigate dog trainer Charisma Johnston after she was arrested Tuesday by Wendell police on five counts of animal cruelty. Arrest warrants say Johnston kept five dogs locked in kennels in the back of van overnight with no windows and intentionally deprived them of nourishment. The dogs were taken to the Wake County Animal Center to receive appropriate care, according to the Wake County Animal services director. Athena, owned by Tiffany Pelzel of Jacksonville. Pelzel said she sent Athena to be trained with Charisma Johnston, who is facing five counts of animal cruelty. Owner of North Carolina rescue arrested for animal cruelty According to the warrant, the names, breeds, and ages of the dogs recovered are: Ajaz, German Shepherd, four-years-old Charlie, German Shepherd, five-years-old Enzio, Belgian Malinois, two-years-old Fyte, Belgian, nine-months-old Karma, Belgian, six-years-old Tiffany Pelzel of Jacksonville, North Carolina had sent her dog Athena to be trained with Johnston at Ready Set Canine in Tennessee. According to the website, Johnston is the head trainer. When Pelzel learned about the arrest, she hoped Athena would be one of the five dogs recovered, but that wasn't the case. At the time of Johnston's arrest, Pelzel said she was already trying to get Athena back because of concerns that arose after Johnston told her a second time Athena needed more training. Johnston also didn't send Pelzel pictures of the dog. "I'm pleading for [Johnston] to give me back my dog," Pelzel said. "I gave her my address and said just put my dog in the back yard. I don't care, just drop her off because I want my dog back." On Wednesday, the day after Johnston's arrest, Pelzel said she received a text from Johnston telling her Athena was hit by a car on Sunday. Johnston told Pelzel that she had Athena cremated, but Pelzel said she hasn't received proof yet. She also said she was previously told Johnston would be transported from Tennessee. Pelzel said she is still unsure whether Athena is still alive. She is still hoping for answers as to what happened to Athena. She said Johnston will meet with her to provide the cremation receipt, but didn't send a picture of it. "I hope [Athena] is out there," Pelzel said. "I hope she's not hidden and suffering, but I want her home either way." Jennifer Rivers of Laurinburg, who used Johnston to train Graham, the service dog of her daughter, Gracie Stanton, said it was a sigh of relief to hear about the arrest. Rivers and Stanton pushed to pick Graham up after Johnston didn't send them updates; when they did, they said Graham's ribs were visible. "He looked skin and bones," Stanton said. "He wasn't a normal dog." Rivers said Graham's tendons are hyper-extended from a lack of exercise and being in a small kennel. He was also diagnosed as malnourished by a veterinarian. Rivers said she asked Johnston about Graham's weight, but Johnston denied any neglect. "[Johnston] said that's just the breed," Rivers said. "He's a tall dog, he's going to be skinny." Rivers and Stanton are hopeful Graham will recover. They also hope no one else ends up in a similar situation. "My hope for [Johnston] is for her to never do this again to these owners, these families, these dogs," Rivers said. Johnston has not responded to requests for comment from CBS 17, as of Thursday evening.