MADISON (WKOW) — A Madison woman who was responsible for the care of multiple dogs is charged with 15 counts of animal mistreatment after several dogs were found dead at her in-home pet care business.
Laura T. Woodward, 39, is charged with one count of felony mistreatment of animals causing death and 14 misdemeanor counts of mistreatment of animals - intentional or negligent violation, class A misdemeanors.
According to the criminal complaint, Woodward neglected and mistreated numerous dogs at her residence on Gilbert Road. One of the dogs she was obligated to look after was a 5-year-old husky mix named Blue.
Woodward admitted to finding Blue dead in her kitchen on July 6 and enlisting help to dispose of the body, according to the complaint. Blue's body was found days later, on July 10, by a woman walking her dog near the tennis courts at Orchard Ridge Elementary School.
In another instance, Woodward was responsible for looking after a Doberman Pinscher named Medusa. But when the owners tried to pick Medusa up, Woodward told them someone had broken into her home, and Medusa ran out. Medusa was later found as a stray and brought to the Dane County Humane Society.
A search of Woodward's home on July 17 revealed unsanitary conditions and the presence of 14 live dogs and multiple deceased animals in the home.
A Madison Police Department detective reported that the home had no power and that there was no food or water available to the dogs.
The MPD's investigation uncovered a history of complaints against Woodward for animal welfare issues dating back to 2023. Police said data from her phone showed she was involved in drug use.
Woodward told police that power was cut off to the residence sometime in June, and that before that she had been "providing quality care to the animals at her home," the complaint stated.
If convicted on the felony animal mistreatment charge, Woodward faces up to three years and six months in prison and a $10,000 fine. For each misdemeanor animal mistreatment charge, she faces up to nine months in prison and a $10,000 fine.
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