Two Charged In Connection With Nowata County Puppy Mill Operation

NewsOn6.com

NOWATA, OK -- Two Nowata County residents are free on bond after being arrested Friday in connection with an alleged puppy mill raided by law enforcement in May. 

In all, 59 dogs were seized as part of a Nowata County Sheriff's Office investigation.

5/18/2010 Related story: Dozens Of Dogs Seized From Nowata County Puppy Mill

The sheriff's office says 34-year-old Carolyn Vaughn and 39-year-old Wesley Griner were booked into jail Friday after being charged with cruelty to animals. 

Nowata County Sheriff's deputies and the City of Nowata animal control officer found the dogs living in what they said were horrible conditions.  

Deputies told The News On 6, the bottoms of some of the pens were made of wire, so investigators say many lived above a mixture of feces, urine and spoiled food. They also say many of the dogs were malnourished and dehydrated. 

Vaughn and Griner each posted bond of $2,500 with the next court hearing set for July 7.