Dog Breeder in Court, Expert Flown In

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By Nick Lough

BILLINGS - A Ballantine woman accused of animal abuse tells a district court judge she's done nothing wrong.

Linda Kapsa entered not guilty pleas to two counts of felony aggravated animal cruelty and four misdemeanors. Prosecutors brought the charges after two raids on her kennels in December. Authorities seized close to 200 dogs shortly after. Officials say during the raids around two dozen dead dogs were discovered at the kennels including one next to her bed.

If found guilty Kapsa faces up to 4 years in jail and several thousand dollars in fines.

A dog expert flown in from the east coast is now monitoring all of the canines seized from Linda Kapsa's breeding facility.

English Shepherd expert Heather Houlahan says at least half the animals rescued are as bad behaviorally as she's ever seen. But she says the current living conditions at MetraPark better meet the dog's needs. Houlahan says the volunteer's efforts go a long way in the recovery process.

"Typically what needs to be done before the dog can be socialized, before the dog can be trained, the dog must be tamed and that's what the volunteers are doing now," said Houlahan.

"My dogs, two of them I can't get them out of my lap. I've had two dogs out Monday morning and walked them around and the other three I'm getting closer," said volunteer Vickie Kraft.

Officials are looking for more volunteers and are asking people to check in at the office next to the MetraPark horse stalls before entering the dog compound.

Wednesday, Jan 14 at 8:34 PM cr wrote ...

shoot robbie, the county animal control has a way of looking the other way when it comes to tough situations. kapsa is not the only puppy mill/hoarder in the area that has been complained about, and overlooked.

Wednesday, Jan 14 at 5:50 PM Robbie in Red Lodge wrote ...

Clearly this woman has serious mental issues, and I just feel like the judicial system dropped the ball on this one. It was the SECOND time they conviscated her dogs. Why did it take years for a followup? Stop focusing on this crazy lady, and figure out how to not let this happen again! It just blows me away that nobody in the system checked on her after the first horrific find!!!

Wednesday, Jan 14 at 3:38 PM cr wrote ...

crazy, she was living in those conditions. you can read the court document on the billings gazette web page. she needs to be locked up in a mental institution and get some help. she is a very sick woman.

Wednesday, Jan 14 at 7:05 AM J wrote ...

200 DOGS SEIZED ,25 ARE DEAD AND SHE SAYS SHE'S DONE NOTHING WRONG..DOES SHE THINK WE ARE STUPID..SHE NEEDS TO GO DIRECTLY TO JAIL ..MAY BE HAVE THE SAME LIVING CONDITIONS SHE GAVE HER DOGS!

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