MONROE - The owner of 20 dogs seized by the Green County Sheriff's Department no longer has ownership after she failed to pay a court-ordered bond Thursday.
Bonnie Bitz, 46, Juda, was ordered by Green County Circuit Court Judge James Beer to pay a $2,100 bond by the end of the day Thursday or have the custody of the animals turned over to Green County government.
Green County Corporation Counsel Bill Morgan told the court Thursday that 20 dogs seized by the Green County Sheriff's Department Feb. 24 were being cared for by the Green County Humane Society (GCHS). He said the GCHS estimated the cost to care for the dogs is $2,100 a week. In addition to the weekly charge, there also is a cost of $1,800 for medical treatment, food and housing incurred in February. There also were two surgeries performed in March by a veterinarian that Bitz must pay for, Morgan added.
Beer ordered the bond to be paid.
Morgan said state statutes allowed the county to take ownership of the dogs if the bond isn't paid. He said the dogs were considered unclaimed property.
Bitz was in Green County Circuit Court on Thursday for a hearing to determine the cost and future care of animals seized by the county at her residence at W3520 Middle Juda Road.
Bitz appeared in court without an attorney. Attorneys aren't provided for a defendant in a civil matter, Beer told her.
The court recessed for a half hour to allow Bitz to try to find an attorney.
When court resumed, Bitz told the court she would try to get an attorney by March 20, when she is scheduled to appear in court in relation to goats and horses seized Feb. 24 by the sheriff's department.
Morgan said the court could impose another $2,100 bond at the March 20 hearing to help defer costs for care for the horses and goats.
Morgan said Bitz still could be required to pay for any care for the dogs from the day they were taken from her residence up to Thursday.
Anyone wishing to adopt any of the dogs can contact the Green County Humane Society at 325-9600.
Bitz is charged with two felony counts of mistreating animals causing death, two felony counts of mistreatment of animals resulting in disfigurement, one misdemeanor count of intentionally mistreating animals, two misdemeanor counts of intentionally failing to provide food for an animal and one misdemeanor count of improper animal shelter.
She faces up to 17 years in prison and up to $80,000 in fines, if convicted.
Six charges stem from the confiscation of 20 dogs from Bitz's property on Feb. 24. Two new charges relate to the alleged mistreatment of goats.
Authorities observed a dead dog hanging from a chain outside a barn, a dead goat that got its horns entangled in a large bale and two dogs with six to nine links of chain embedded in their necks that had to be surgically removed.
The complaint states Bitz failed to properly feed and give water to 20 dogs and provided improper shelter for 17 of the dogs which lived in the farmhouse. The complaint states Bitz also failed to provide water, shelter, sanitation and care to about 23 dairy goats.
Her preliminary hearing for her criminal case in relation to the goats and horses is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. March 19. She remains free on a $5,000 signature bond in the criminal case.
- News Editor Jim Winter contributed to this story
Bonnie Bitz, 46, Juda, was ordered by Green County Circuit Court Judge James Beer to pay a $2,100 bond by the end of the day Thursday or have the custody of the animals turned over to Green County government.
Green County Corporation Counsel Bill Morgan told the court Thursday that 20 dogs seized by the Green County Sheriff's Department Feb. 24 were being cared for by the Green County Humane Society (GCHS). He said the GCHS estimated the cost to care for the dogs is $2,100 a week. In addition to the weekly charge, there also is a cost of $1,800 for medical treatment, food and housing incurred in February. There also were two surgeries performed in March by a veterinarian that Bitz must pay for, Morgan added.
Beer ordered the bond to be paid.
Morgan said state statutes allowed the county to take ownership of the dogs if the bond isn't paid. He said the dogs were considered unclaimed property.
Bitz was in Green County Circuit Court on Thursday for a hearing to determine the cost and future care of animals seized by the county at her residence at W3520 Middle Juda Road.
Bitz appeared in court without an attorney. Attorneys aren't provided for a defendant in a civil matter, Beer told her.
The court recessed for a half hour to allow Bitz to try to find an attorney.
When court resumed, Bitz told the court she would try to get an attorney by March 20, when she is scheduled to appear in court in relation to goats and horses seized Feb. 24 by the sheriff's department.
Morgan said the court could impose another $2,100 bond at the March 20 hearing to help defer costs for care for the horses and goats.
Morgan said Bitz still could be required to pay for any care for the dogs from the day they were taken from her residence up to Thursday.
Anyone wishing to adopt any of the dogs can contact the Green County Humane Society at 325-9600.
Bitz is charged with two felony counts of mistreating animals causing death, two felony counts of mistreatment of animals resulting in disfigurement, one misdemeanor count of intentionally mistreating animals, two misdemeanor counts of intentionally failing to provide food for an animal and one misdemeanor count of improper animal shelter.
She faces up to 17 years in prison and up to $80,000 in fines, if convicted.
Six charges stem from the confiscation of 20 dogs from Bitz's property on Feb. 24. Two new charges relate to the alleged mistreatment of goats.
Authorities observed a dead dog hanging from a chain outside a barn, a dead goat that got its horns entangled in a large bale and two dogs with six to nine links of chain embedded in their necks that had to be surgically removed.
The complaint states Bitz failed to properly feed and give water to 20 dogs and provided improper shelter for 17 of the dogs which lived in the farmhouse. The complaint states Bitz also failed to provide water, shelter, sanitation and care to about 23 dairy goats.
Her preliminary hearing for her criminal case in relation to the goats and horses is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. March 19. She remains free on a $5,000 signature bond in the criminal case.
- News Editor Jim Winter contributed to this story