Oregon Public Broadcasting

About 200 sheep and 55 horses have been taken away from an 80-year-old woman in Klamath Falls. People had complained about neglected animals on Leta Johnson’s property for more than 10 years.

District Attorney Cole Chase says, when the animals were finally removed their condition was very poor.

Cole Chase: “When we made our last site visit it was apparent that all of the sheep were in bad condition and that the majority, vast majority of the horses were in bad condition. And by that I mean severely malnourished, some of them starving to death before our eyes.”

Multiple charges have been filed against Johnson. But Chase says he isn't asking that she be sentenced to jail. He says he wants to keep Johnson from owning livestock again.

The County also wants money from Johnson to pay for the animals' food, transportation and medical care. Chase says the Klamath Humane Society spent thousands of dollars to provide for the sheep and horses.