Toledo woman pleads not guilty to multiple animal cruelty charges

A Toledo woman pleaded not guilty Friday to 22 counts of animal cruelty after authorities seized two dozen animals from her West Toledo trailer this week.

Sheila Ortmann entered her pleas in Toledo Municipal Court. Her next court hearing is Sept. 22.

The 22 dogs, a cat, and a bird were taken from the trailer in the Twinwall Village Mobile Home Park on Tremainsville Road.

One dog was dead when Humane Society cruelty investigators arrived.

The charges are connected to the dogs.

Ms. Ortmann was not charged in connection with the cat because she told authorities it was a stray and it would have been hard to verify ownership, Toledo Area Humane Society spokesman Patty Gelb said.

The bird’s cage had been recently cleaned and included water, so no charge was filed in that instance either, she said.

The charges are misdemeanors; each carries a possible prison term of no more than 90 days and a $750 fine.

The dogs’ conditions vary and they still are being treated for a number of medical issues, including flea and skin infections, Ms. Gelb said.

One dog had a prolapsed eye and had to have the eye removed, the society said.

Several dogs have been cleared medically and behaviorally and will be available for adoption, beginning at 10 a.m. Saturday.