Arkansas woman charged with 177 counts after 295 dogs removed from home

A muddy mid-sized dog watches during an animal rescue, Thursday, March 3, 2016, in Madison County. (Brandon Wade/AP Images for The Humane Society of the United States)
A muddy mid-sized dog watches during an animal rescue, Thursday, March 3, 2016, in Madison County. (Brandon Wade/AP Images for The Humane Society of the United States)

A Madison County woman has been charged with 177 counts of cruelty to animals after 295 dogs were confiscated from her home near Wesley on March 3.

Joyce Eulela Johnson, 67, was arrested in March on two preliminary counts of misdemeanor cruelty to animals.

Last week, Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Joel E. Cape filed formal charges -- 27 felony counts of aggravated cruelty to animals and 150 misdemeanor counts of cruelty to animals.

The felony charges, under Arkansas Code Annotated 5-62-104, involve knowingly torturing a dog, cat or horse.

Cape said it's a "very high standard and very high bar."

"It's a challenging case," he said.

The misdemeanor counts will be easier to prove, he said.

Johnson faces a maximum penalty of six years in prison and a $10,000 fine on each felony count and one year in prison and a $1,000 fine on each misdemeanor charge.

Johnson was booked at the temporary jail in Huntsville on March 3 and released on citation. Her arraignment is scheduled for June 28 in Madison County Circuit Court and she has yet to enter a plea, Cape said.

He said veterinarians examined each dog.

"The charges are based on the review of each animal by professional veterinarians -- body condition and dental condition," Cape said. "Some of the dogs were fine. I think that has probably been overlooked to some degree."

Cape said five dead dogs were found on the property.

The raid took place after the Humane Society of the United States received a tip about the situation, according to a news release from the organization. The Madison County sheriff's office served a search-and-seizure warrant on the property and found that the animals were housed in deplorable conditions, according to the release.

Shonna Harvey of Lowell, director of the nonprofit Paws & Claws Pet Shelter of Madison County, said she is the one who notified the Humane Society. She said an investigation began in December.

Harvey said Johnson surrendered the dogs to deputies and the Humane Society.

Alice Hart, kennel supervisor at Paws & Claws, said six dogs died after being confiscated. She said homes were found for the remaining dogs, which were sent to shelters across the country. Twenty-five dogs were adopted through the Madison County shelter, she said.

Jessica Lauginiger, puppy mills response manager for the Humane Society's Animal Rescue Team, said Arkansas is a "hotbed" for puppy mill operators because of a lack of laws regulating commercial dog breeding.

Metro on 05/12/2016

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