A woman arrested in May on charges of animal cruelty regarding dogs now faces more charges for housing 33 "overbred" and "underfed" pigs against court orders, authorities say.
Judy Dubois, 58, was charged Wednesday with 12 new misdemeanors of "animal cruelty, torment, deprive, mutilate or kill any animal." As of Thursday afternoon, she was being held in the Leon County Detention Facility in lieu of a $250 bond.
Dubois has been stuck in legal battles since late April defending her rescue's reputation amid backlash from neighbors who have criticized her business for years, saying she's a hoarder rather than a rescuer.
On May 4 — two days after her first arrest — Leon County Sheriff's deputies visited Dubois' property in reference to a "livestock impoundment callout," according to court records. The deputies saw that she still had animals, which violated a court order.
Background:Rescuer or hoarder? Attorney, neighbors speak out in local animal cruelty case
They then seized dozens of pigs that they said showed signs of neglect from Dubois' self-operated pet rescue, Dubois Rescue. The animals were relocated to a "community partner's undisclosed location" and were evaluated by a veterinarian, court records show.
"Neglect of basic care to these pigs was evident on the first visit," records say. "Based on physical exams and the history of the pigs, they have been overbred, underfed and basic health care provisions had not been given."
The veterinarian reported that the pigs suffered from internal and external parasites, "musculoskeletal injuries," and there was no "reproductive management."
Dubois was first arrested May 2 on misdemeanor charges of animal cruelty and confining animals without sufficient food or water. Weeks before her first arrest, Dubois was slapped with numerous citations related to 66 dogs that were confiscated from her property.
They found dozens of dogs — many of which had matted fur, no access to clean food or water and standing in a large amount of their own waste — in the yard housed in wire cages.
The following day, she was released on a $500 bond, and a court order was issued that Dubois wasn't "allowed to possess any animals," according to court documents.
Breaking & trending news reporter Elena Barrera can be reached at ebarrera@tallahassee.com. Follow her on X: @elenabarreraaa.
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