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.