WALKER, Mich — About two weeks after West Michigan law enforcement seized more than a dozen dogs living in a pickup truck with their owner, she appeared before a judge formally Monday morning.
Carolyn Newsome, 61, was arrested earlier this month after she was discovered to be living with 17 dogs in her truck.
She appeared in 59W District Court Monday and was formally charged with failing to provide ten or more animals with adequate care.
Someone who was concerned about the dogs called 911 when they saw them piled up in a red Chevy Silverado in a Dollar Tree parking lot in Walker.
Court documents revealed that responding deputies found the dogs malnourished, covered in feces and didn't have access to water.
Newsome denied the poor living conditions of the dogs.
Authorities took the dogs to a nearby animal shelter to get cleaned up, fed a meal and also given water.
"Upon arrival at the shelter, the dogs quickly drank an abundance of water and ate an abundance of food, further showing that they were hungry and dehydrated," the Animal Control Officer said in court documents.
Newsome is facing up to four years in prison, a $5,000 fine, 500 hours of community service.
As of Monday afternoon, Newsom remains in custody at the Kent County Jail.
