MONROE - A Monroe woman will pay $618 after she pleaded no contest Wednesday in Green County Circuit Court to two counts of failure to provide sufficient food for animals.
Bonnie K. Bitz, 47, originally was charged with four counts of mistreatment of animals, all class I felonies, misdemeanor mistreatment of animals and improper animal shelter, both class A misdemeanors, and two counts of failure to provide sufficient food to animals, both forfeitures. She faced more than 15 years in prison and more than $60,000 in fines.
The court dismissed the four felonies and two misdemeanors as part of a plea agreement.
Under terms of the deal, Bitz is required to attend counseling and is prohibited from having any dogs, goats or sheep. If Bitz doesn't comply with the terms of the agreement, she could be sentenced for the felonies and misdemeanors.
Court records indicate that between Feb. 8 and Feb. 24, 2008, Bitz failed to provide adequate food and water for 20 dogs and kept them in an unheated building.
The Green County Sheriff's Department seized the dogs Feb. 24, 2008, from her rural Monroe residence. Goats and horses also were seized.
According to the criminal complaint, filed March 4, 2008, Bitz failed to properly feed and give water to 17 indoor dogs, all mixed breeds of Pekinese, Terrier and Labrador retriever. The complaint states Bitz failed to provide water and food, other than the remains of a sack of dry dog food and several animal carcasses in the unheated farmhouse.
It also states that Bitz failed to provide water to three adult mixed breed dogs. Bitz also fed the three dogs the carcasses of two dead Holstein calves.
The dogs were turned over to Green County March 14, 2008, after Bitz failed to pay a $2,100 bond to cover the cost of care for the animals incurred by Green County.
All of the dogs were later adopted to homes through the Green County Humane Society.
Bonnie K. Bitz, 47, originally was charged with four counts of mistreatment of animals, all class I felonies, misdemeanor mistreatment of animals and improper animal shelter, both class A misdemeanors, and two counts of failure to provide sufficient food to animals, both forfeitures. She faced more than 15 years in prison and more than $60,000 in fines.
The court dismissed the four felonies and two misdemeanors as part of a plea agreement.
Under terms of the deal, Bitz is required to attend counseling and is prohibited from having any dogs, goats or sheep. If Bitz doesn't comply with the terms of the agreement, she could be sentenced for the felonies and misdemeanors.
Court records indicate that between Feb. 8 and Feb. 24, 2008, Bitz failed to provide adequate food and water for 20 dogs and kept them in an unheated building.
The Green County Sheriff's Department seized the dogs Feb. 24, 2008, from her rural Monroe residence. Goats and horses also were seized.
According to the criminal complaint, filed March 4, 2008, Bitz failed to properly feed and give water to 17 indoor dogs, all mixed breeds of Pekinese, Terrier and Labrador retriever. The complaint states Bitz failed to provide water and food, other than the remains of a sack of dry dog food and several animal carcasses in the unheated farmhouse.
It also states that Bitz failed to provide water to three adult mixed breed dogs. Bitz also fed the three dogs the carcasses of two dead Holstein calves.
The dogs were turned over to Green County March 14, 2008, after Bitz failed to pay a $2,100 bond to cover the cost of care for the animals incurred by Green County.
All of the dogs were later adopted to homes through the Green County Humane Society.