BELLINGHAM, WA (MyBellinghamNow.com) – A Lynden woman has pleaded not guilty to neglecting dozens of dogs at a local rescue she ran.

Court documents state 38-year-old Ashley Georgia was formally charged with 30 counts of first-degree animal cruelty on Monday, Oct. 26.

She was arrested the previous Friday after Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office deputies rescued 17 dogs from Pittie Project PNW south of Lynden on Oct. 5.

They found the dogs to be living in extremely poor conditions, with no access to food or water and open wounds on several of the animals.

Volunteers at the rescue had previously removed 13 other dogs from the property once they discovered the living conditions.

Georgia remains at the Whatcom County Jail on $200,000 bail. The court has ordered that she is not allowed to have contact with any animals if she’s released.

Her next hearing is scheduled for Nov. 18 with a trial slated to begin on Dec. 14.

First-degree animal cruelty is a class C felony that is punishable in Washington by up to five years in a state correctional institution and a $10,000 fine.

The Whatcom Human Society says the neglected dogs have all been sent to trusted rescue partners and shelters, who will continue to care for the dogs and place them into permanent homes.