MADISON COUNTY (KFSM) — A woman suspected of running a puppy mill in Madison County is scheduled to be in court June 28 after she was charged with 177 additional counts in the case on May 5.
Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Joel Cape filed additional charges of 150 counts of misdemeanor cruelty to animals and 27 counts of felony aggravated cruelty to animals against Joyce Eulela Johnson, 67, after the Madison County Sheriff’s Office found nearly 300 dogs and puppies on the woman’s property in early March.
Johnson surrendered the animals to sheriff’s office and was originally facing two misdemeanor counts of animal cruelty, the sheriff’s office said at the time. Johnson was also released on her own recognizance.
The Humane Society said the dogs were being house in deplorable conditions and were living in feces and filth without access to clean water and food. Five dogs were also found dead.
A misdemeanor cruelty to animals conviction carries a fine of up to $1,000 and one year in jail. A felony aggravated cruelty to animals conviction could end in a fine of up to $10,000 and six years in prison.
