FAYETTEVILLE -- Police arrested a woman after removing more than 20 dogs suffering from neglect and living in squalor inside her home, according to an arrest affidavit.
Vickie West, 63, of 891 E. Missouri Way was arrested Thursday in connection with felony aggravated cruelty to a dog. West also faces misdemeanor charges of cruelty to animals.
Police removed 25 dogs and a cat from West's home Jan. 10, according to the affidavit. Several of the dogs were emaciated and had coats saturated with urine and feces. Police also found three decayed dog corpses.
West told police she adopted several dogs with a high risk of euthanasia from a Texas animal shelter and planned to transfer them to rescue groups.
A shelter representative became concerned in January when West returned a dog in her care for one month that was emaciated and in poor health. West had adopted at least 10 dogs from one shelter since 2015, according to the affidavit.
West voluntarily surrendered all of the animals. They have been adopted or returned to shelters in Texas, said Justine Lentz, city Animal Services superintendent.
West was released Thursday from the Washington County Detention Center after posting a partial bond of $2,500.
NW News on 03/09/2017