A Farmersburg woman, who owns a business in Linton, is facing multiple misdemeanor charges after Vigo County deputies investigating an animal neglect complaint reported finding several severely malnourished dogs at a rural Vigo County property, according to court documents.

According to a probable cause affidavit, deputies with the Vigo County Sheriff's Office responded July 3 to a residence in the 5600 block of West Middletown Drive after receiving a report of possible animal neglect.

At the scene, deputies spoke with family members who told investigators several dogs appeared to be in poor condition. The affidavit states one dog had died the previous day and had already been buried.

Investigators later spoke by phone with Leah D. Ray, 48, of Farmersburg, who acknowledged owning the dogs and told deputies she had been living in an apartment in Linton while attempting to open a business there. According to the affidavit, Ray said someone had been staying at the Vigo County property and caring for the animals.

Deputies reported that Ray initially said she had last checked on the animals about two weeks earlier before revising her answer to approximately one week. Investigators wrote that the condition of the dogs suggested their deterioration had occurred over a longer period.

Animal Control Deputy Don Aldrich responded to the property after reviewing photographs of the animals. According to the affidavit, eight dogs were located on the property, including three in a fenced yard, four inside the residence and one at a nearby cabin. Deputies reported several of the dogs were severely underweight, with visible ribs, hips and spines.

The Terre Haute Humane Society arranged to accept the dogs, which were impounded by animal control. Court documents also state several of the animals were not current on their rabies vaccinations.

Ray has been charged with eight counts of Class A misdemeanor cruelty to an animal. She also faces eight counts of harboring a non-immunized dog, each filed as a Class C infraction.