Breeders in Shepherd plead not guilty to animal abuse after 42 neglected dogs confiscated

Two women claiming to be reputable dog breeders are facing multiple felonies after Yellowstone County law enforcement pulled dozens of starved and neglected dogs off a Shepherd property late last month.

Katie Marie Milliken and Rebekkah Lynn Collins pleaded not guilty Friday to counts of animal cruelty in Yellowstone County District Court. The two sisters allegedly held 42 dogs, most of them Newfoundlands, in kennels fouled with urine and feces but with no access to food or water.

The ages of the animals ranged from pups to full-grown adults, many of whom were far from a healthy weight and suffering from infections, court documents said. Investigators executing the search warrant that preceded the criminal charges also allegedly found decaying dog carcasses on the property. The Yellowsto