A two month investigation into an animal neglect and abuse case leads to the arrest of a 70 year old woman on terroristic threat charges. Lancaster County Sheriff’s Captain Tommy Trotter says they initially went to Julia Hudson’s home near Malcolm in September after a delivery driver was bitten by one of her dogs.
“While deputies were at the residence they discovered Hudson was operating an unlicensed breeding facility,” Trotter says. “There were over 20 dogs living in unsanitary conditions.” Trotter says at one point Hudson did have a proper license but it was no longer valid. She was cited for not having proof of rabies vaccination.
Trotter says on that day the sheriff’s office launched an animal abuse and neglect investigation. Since September deputies and Nebraska’s Department of Agriculture had been working with Hudson to make sure the dogs were being properly cared for.
On Tuesday Trotter says deputies returned to the home to check on Hudson and the conditions of the dogs. Trotter says they found 27 dogs on the property. “Some of them were covered in feces, several were living outdoors in the cold and snow. Others were located inside kennels in the residence and in the garage.”
Trotter says when they confronted Hudson she ordered the deputies to leave her home. “She retrieved her Belgian Malinois and threatened to assault the deputies with the dog. She at one point had also pushed one of the investigators in attempt to get her to leave.”
Hudson was arrested for making terroristic threats and obstructing a government operation. The 27 rescued dogs are now in the care of the Capital Humane Society.