Woman accused of hoarding dogs in trailer appears in court

Wednesday, April 25, 2007 2:26 AM CDT

Journal Times staff

YORKVILLE -

The woman accused of leaving 27 dogs in a filthy trailer has made her first appearance in court.

Susan A. Ball, 45, of Union Grove, is charged with failing to provide proper food to a confined animal, intentionally not providing an animal with sanitary shelter and two counts of bail jumping. All charges are misdemeanors. She could face up to $10,000 in fines and three years imprisonment if convicted on all charges.

The dogs were discovered late last month when the Sheriff's Department investigated a report of animal mistreatment. Deputies heard dogs barking inside a trailer home at A Storage Place, 19031 Spring St. When they went inside they found small dogs packed three or four to a cage, without space to move around. The cages were very dirty, and many dogs were matted head to toe in feces.

Ball surrendered the dogs to Countryside Humane Society, and said she found strays and took in dogs people were getting rid of.

She is next due in court in June.

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