Ind. woman faces 17 counts of animal cruelty

LOWELL, Ind. — A northwestern Indiana woman faces animal cruelty charges after police found 17 dogs and the carcasses of 15 other canines in her feces-filled home.

The Times of Munster reports that Lake County officials charged 62-year-old Vicki Moon on Tuesday with 17 counts of animal cruelty. She surrendered to police on Wednesday.

Field officer Nate Fetcko says it took more than four hours to rescue all the dogs Friday from Moon's Lowell home.

He says many of the dogs had dug through nearly two feet of feces to find shelter beneath a bed.

Fetcko says the dogs were found covered in feces, fleas and parasites. They were all cleaned and immunized after being rescued and are adjusting to their surroundings.