this old woman obviously should not be allowed to keep these dogs. There is no excuse or the neglect or cruelty to animals. They should stick this woman in the cold for a night just to teach her a lesson!

Most people would have had their animals taken a LONG time ago...why are they wasting so much money dragging out abuse of animals? It clearly shows after all this time that the owner won't change. Find someone who will love & take care of these animals the proper way.

At 20 -30degrees belowzero,I don't think I would want to take my chances in an un-heated mudroom! This is cruelty,and all who are allowing it are guilty!

5 years! 5 years! You have got to be kidding me. Looks like I have some work to do outside of the sad state of Maine. Perhaps a good shake up of the entire "Animal Control" office should be done. The punishment should fit the crime--You let these dogs sleep outside, perhaps you shall too. There are special places in hell for animal abusers and I am sure it is overloaded already--but there is always room for one more.

I have never been able to understand why, when people see a need, instead of stepping in to help, they complain to someone else. I really do believe that if you are not part of the solution, you are part of the problem. Where is this woman's family? There has to be someone who can take some responsibility. Isn't there a single person in that area who would be able and willing to volunteer an hour or so a day to make sure these animals are safe? Couldn't someone donate insulation and warm bedding for that unheated mudroom? If the owner refuses the help, then the animals should be taken. I don't care if there isn't a specific law about shelter, there is a law about cruelty. Change the situation, or enforce the law. And before you ask why I don't put my money where my mouth is; I spend my extra money having feral cats in my area spayed and neutered. I have also taken in many stray dogs, re-habbed them and found new forever homes for them. Oh, I see, you don't have the money to do that, eh? I live on social security.

How does a dog owner/breeder have water available to these outdoor dogs in this cold weather? It's so cold that 5-10 minutes after you put the water out, it is already frozen!

jaguarsky----Good for you, but we all do not live in an area where we can take in stray animals, much less have the vet bills that you obviously do! And everyone simply does not have extra money of this kind from their S.S. checks. If the woman has family, it's obvious they won't help. Maybe in that area most people work all day. And just maybe, this lady is simply in over her head and just can't handle this any more. Regardless of how much she wants to. But, it is the ani,mals that are suffering, and as I said before, it is being allowed, and is cruelty to the animals. Since 2004!!

I know Barbara Skapa and she is a responsible person. I applaude her for speaking out for these dogs. Norma, please close down this money hungry dog abusing puppy miller. I will also committ to picketing this disgusting breeding kennel.

I think jaguarsky pretty much sums it up. Stop your arm chair quarterbacking and drop off an old blanket and a 20 lb. bag of dog food to this nice lady. Oh yea, Norma...we'll see you in court soon for killing seized horses and holding other's hostage for a large part of that $600,000 dollars.

Bar Harbor

If this has been going on for five long years, I'm probably guessing that years ago people DID try to help by dropping off blankets, food, volunteering time, etc. But when people try to help and start seeing its going no where's they back off--and I'm guessing that this might be the case with this? maybe not--no one knows. But 5 long years is an awful long time to try to change the way someone takes care of dogs. isn't this tax money that supports the Animal Welfare league? Or is it supported through donations? Regardless--5 years is an awful long time to still see someone neglecting or abusing dogs. (Didn't pay attention to the years 1st time I posted). Hope someone takes these dogs. Wintertime isn't over yet, and I'm sure some of these dogs will die in the cold.

This woman is not capable of taking care of dogs. Come on State of Maine do your jobs, and get this lady out of the picture..unfit..Larry T. Doughty,South Brewer. www.larrytdoughty@yahoo.com.ughty@yahoo.com. www.ourstory.com/larrytdoughty/

I just can't understand why people are allowed to breed and breed and breed dogsand cats. With millions being euthanized every year the laws should control breeding of all animals. This 70 year old women should be shut down. At her age she can't take care of all those dogs. Hopefully, she will slip on a banana peel and break her hip so she can't have dogs anymore. 20 to 30 degrees below is too cold for any animal to be outside. their paws freeze. I support the kind folks that are picketing the abusive breeders house. If I lived closer I would join them. It is time the state of maine law makers do something to protect all the animals living in substandard conitions so their breeders and make a living off them. That is worse than prostitution, if you ask me.

Fresh UNFROZEN potable water and food seem to be bare minimum. If these basic items are not being provided consistently that in itself seems to be grounds for seizure??? There are many different mfg that produce water tank deicers or heated water fountains for mininmal cost. This breeder should invest some of her profits back into the dogs and take care of these basic requirements.

If this so-called breeder is in her mid-70's, as the article states, she could be a "hoarder" of animals, which afflicts mainly women. This is also a sign of mental incapacity and I wonder if this lady has any family and, if so, why nobody has thought to have her physical and mental health evaluated. Surely some sort of court order can nbe obtained to help this dreadful situation?

Someone really needs to get a grip with the animal control in this state! This woman should not have these dogs. What is it going to take? Perhaps laws need to be rewritten. This isn't breeding, it's hoarding. In my own neighborhood today, with the temps reaching minus 14, there was a dog left to roam free all day while the owner leaves. Animal control officer was called and refused to act, even though he was told the dog had no access to shelter, food, water & had a bleeding paw. The dog the attacked my room mate when she tried to enter our home. Called 911 and they told me to call my town office....spoke to the city manager and he said he would do what he could but these things take time. Still, nothing was done. Seriously....why do people have no conscious when it comes to animals? I am sick to death of their excuses of they have to monitor and their paperwork...how would they like to be left in sub-standard conditions and left in the freezing cold weather all day??

Carol is at it again! For YEARS (upwards of 30, not just 5!) this woman has persistantly had numbers of horses and dogs well beyond her ability to care for them. MainelyMe2, the local folks have helped her, bailed her out numerous times. They have provided food , found homes for animals, they get her squared away with numbers that she can handle, and the next thing you know she has the numbers up again.

I personally know of several horses that died in her hands of neglectful circumstances. I voluntarily transported a horse from there to a new environment many years ago. She has had large numbers of various breeds of dogs...one time it was Akitas, I don't know how many dogs have died there... I am sure it is many. She should not have animals, she is physically, mentally and financially unable to care for them, and has been so for many years.

Thanks you Chris1943--I had a feeling this was the reason no one stepped in to help was because of the past being the same. WOW almost 30 years. Makes me sick that all these animals are pretty much in that place to eithor get sick, diseased--or to die. I don't even let my own dog stay outside for more than 5 minutes because of the weather, and he also knows its cold out there and doesn't even want to go out. He's a rat terrier, so gets cold easy anyways--but even dogs with a heavy coat still have paws that will freeze. I honestly hope she gets shut down PERMANENTLY. And again thanks for answering my question.

HAS ANYONE GONE THERE TO CHECK ON THE DOGS TODAY? As a former Newport resident now living in FL reading this article just makes me sick to my stomach, especially when I read that temps there were as low as -31 in Corinna.

Maybe someone needs to call PETA and get them involved if the State of Maine won't act on this.

THIS IS A PURE CASE OF TORTURE AND INHUMANITY IN ITS MOST EVIL SENSE!

THIS JUST MAKES ME HEART SICK. WHY DON'T THE AUTHORITIES DO ANYTHING? THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION. MAYBE PEOPLE WHO ARE AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM AND THIS (HEARTLESS) WOMENS ACTIONS SHOULD COME TOGETHER AND DEMAND THAT SOMETHING BE DONE. GET THOSE DEFENSLESS ANIMALS OUT OF HER CONTROL. SHE KNOWS THIS IS WRONG BUT FOR SOME REASON WON'T LET HER ANIMALS BE TAKEN AND GIVIN TO HOMES THAT WILL LOVE AND CARE FOR THEM. THE MAIN REASON FOR THIS, MONEY !!!!!!! SHE LOOKS AT THESE POOR ANIMALS AS MONEY NOT AS LIVE, SENSITIVE, LOVING, HELPLESS TO SPEAK FOR THEM SELVES CREATURES. IT'S ALL ABOUT MONEY.

WOMEN YOU DEQUST ME. YOU MUST HAVE NO HEART,NO CONSCIENCE AT ALL. GIVE UP AND ALLOW THESE PRECIOUS ANIMALS THE LOVING HOMES THEY DESERVE. I THINK YOU SHOULD SEEK MENTAL HEALTH FOR YOURSELF AND THEN MAYBE YOU WILL UNDERSTAND HOW VERY CRUEL YOU HAVE BEEN. AND TONIGHT, YOU SLEEP IN THE MUD ROOM!!!

PETA is not the solution for this problem. I think daily calls to the local ACO and calls to local state rep to push for answers is the way to go. PETA has no credibilty in this country, an example would be a couple years ago when Rudi Juliani had prostate cancer and PETA sponsered a billboard poking fun at him because he drank the evil milk! This problem is a community issue and should be handled as such.

This woman is not heartless, she is just incapable of understanding her limits, and does not have the resources to care for the numbers of animals she repeatedly acqures.

The community has tried repeatedly to deal with her and her issues.