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County charges dog owner Sams Valley women accused of neglect A Sams Valley woman has been charged with criminally neglecting dogs she kept by the dozens in a filthy kennel. Bonita Jones, 53, was cited to appear April 6 on five counts of second-degree animal neglect, according to Jackson County District Attorney Mark Huddleston. Jones had been under investigation since last month, when county Animal Control officers found 70 dogs at her rural home. Most of the dogs suffered from various physical and behavioral problems, according to Animal Control staff. Some had fur so thickly matted with feces and mud that shelter workers couldn't tell one end from the other. Others tried to attack the staff. Huddleston said most of the dogs were in such poor condition that 56 of them had to be euthanized. A few were adopted by local residents. Court documents allege that Jones failed to provide minimum care. Jones reportedly told county officials that she had planned to give some of the dogs to Dogs for the Deaf, but the plan fell through. Meanwhile, the dogs kept multiplying and she was overwhelmed after the recent death of her husband. Huddleston said he decided to prosecute after reviewing reports prepared by Animal Control and photographs of the pen where the dogs were kept. Second-degree animal neglect is a Class B misdemeanor, punishable by up to six months in jail and a maximum fine of $2,500. Mail Tribune Copyright � The Mail Tribune 1999, Medford, Oregon USA