Patsy Chism, 61, 2501 Colorado Drive, could face four counts of aggravated animal cruelty and 76 counts of simple abuse to animals, said Matthew Friedman, an attorney for Jefferson Parish.
Chism, who also is facing an unrelated charge of obstruction of justice in connection with the March murder of her boyfriend at her house, was not at home when officials issued the citation but must contact the Jefferson Parish Animal Shelter ahead of a hearing set for Sept. 12, Friedman said.
In June, authorities received a complaint from a resident who purchased a dog from Chism that died within a week, Friedman said. It was later learned that the dog had a degenerative disease at the time of sale.
That complaint led officials to inspect Chism's house Friday to investigate whether she was illegally operating a business out of her residence, Friedman said.
During the visit, the case took a grim turn as officials uncovered a filthy, feces-ridden building behind her house strewn with newspapers where sickly dogs, some stored in broken cages, had little water and food, Friedman said. Most of the dogs were Chihuahuas, and officials believe Chism was breeding them for sale.
Authorities recovered the dogs and took them to the East Jefferson animal shelter, where they were examined by a veterinarian. Three dogs in critical condition had to be euthanized, and one was dead on arrival, Friedman said.
Before being hauled to the shelter, the dogs were quickly provided water by authorities, a scene Friedman described as similar to "pigs at a trough."
Friedman said he's hoping that a judge will bar Chism from having any more dogs or will at least limit the number she can keep. Some of the dogs rescued Friday could soon be available for adoption, he said.
The Sept. 12 hearing will deal primarily with any parish code violations, while officials will direct the animal cruelty and abuse allegations to the Jefferson Parish district attorney's office.
Friedman said parish officials will push for felony charges against Chism, but the exact charges and possible punishments are still unclear.
Chism also is slated for a hearing Thursday in 24th Judicial District Court. That matter involves a separate animal cruelty misdemeanor charge stemming from a February 2005 complaint that followed the death of another dog sold by Chism that died within days, Friedman said.
Authorities have been keeping a watchful eye on her for five years and have inspected her house roughly 30 times during that period, Friedman said. In the vast majority of cases, she would abide by requirements to correct any violations within 10 days, he said.
Unrelated to the animal cruelty cases, Chism was charged in July with obstruction of justice in connection with the shooting death of her boyfriend, Darnell Williams. Chism's son, Charles Striplin, was charged with second-degree murder in the incident.
Chism is accused of removing a butcher knife from Williams' hands after the shooting as a way of refuting Striplin's contention that the killing was in self-defense. A hearing in state court has been set for Sept. 14 in that case.
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