WALKER, Mich — A woman accused of living with nearly 20 dogs in her truck pleaded not guilty to an animal abuse charge Tuesday morning.
Carolyn Newsome, 61, was arrested in October after she was discovered to be living with 17 dogs in her truck. She was charged with failing to provide 10 or more animals with adequate care.
Newsome appeared in court for a preliminary hearing on Tuesday. She entered a not guilty plea, agreed to surrender her animals and asked the judge to lower her bond.
Newsome's attorney argued that the animals were found to be in good condition after they were seized from the truck, and that Newsome does not have a prior criminal history.
The judge agreed to lower her bond.
The charges stem back to Oct. 14, when a passerby 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 without adequate access to water.
Newsome denied the poor living conditions of the dogs.
The dogs were taken to the Kent County Animal Shelter to receive care.
"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 and 500 hours of community service.
Newsome's trial date has not yet been scheduled.
On Monday, 13 ON YOUR SIDE obtained body camera footage of the seizure of the dogs.
Strong language can be heard in the body camera footage. Viewer discretion is advised.