85 Counts of Animal Cruelty for Orphaned Kanines Owner

Orphaned Kanines owner Debra Gray could get decades behind bars after police say she kept dozens of dogs, 10 cats and 2 pigs in deplorable conditions at the shelter she owned and two residences.

Debra Gray, 55, was charged Monday in Racine County Circuit Court with 85 misdemeanor counts of intentional mistreatment of animals and 1 count of operating an animal shelter without a license. If convicted, she faces up to 64 years, three months in jail and/or up to $860,000 in fines.

Gray is accused of keeping too many dogs in an unlicensed facility that was also deemed filthy and unfit for the animals. After Caledonia police received a complaint May 29 from the Caledonia Fire Department about conditions at Orphaned Kanines, the animals were seized and taken to Wisconsin Humane Society  campuses in Mount Pleasant, Milwaukee and Grafton.

Kori Ashley, Gray’s attorney, after her client’s court date told reporters that Gray will fight the charges against her.

“We look forward to vigorously fighting these charges. We look forward to more facts coming out about the case. We look forward to vigorously fighting these charges, and we don’t have any additional comment at this time,” she is quoted by WISN 12 News.

Gray was being held in the Racine County Jail on a $5,000 cash bond, but online court records indicate she made bail over the weekend. She will next be in court for a pre-trial conference on June 26.