A WASHFORD woman has appeared in court accused of mistreating 13 dogs, a rabbit, a cat, six birds and a tortoise.
Heather Stanton, 60, of Williton Road, appeared at Taunton Magistrates' Court on Monday, October 1.
She's accused of 17 counts of causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal.
The 13 dogs are a range of breeds including Chihuahua, Pomeranian, Leonberger and Jack Russell Terrier.
The six birds are a salmon crested Cockatoo, an African grey parrot, two Amazon parrots and two Senegal parrots.
The accusations surrounding the animals related to between January 26 and February 9 earlier this year.
Stanton pleaded not guilty to most of charges and is due to appear before district judge David Taylor at North Somerset Magistrates' Court next month.
Her guilty pleas were surrounding the treatment of the six birds and the tortoise, to which she initially pleaded not guilty.
The trial is set to begin on November 26 and is due to last four days.
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