A Southern Indiana woman was arrested Tuesday at her home and charged after authorities say they found more than 50 dogs and other animals in poor condition on her property.

Jefferson County Prosecutor David Sutter said in a statement Vickie Gorrell, 69, was arrested at her home in Lexington, Indiana, on a warrant stemming from an animal neglect investigation that began in January.

Lexington is an incorporated community roughly 30 miles north of Louisville.

Animal control officers and specialists from Jefferson County and the Indiana Board of Animal Health first visited Gorrell's home on Jan. 15 after receiving a complaint of animals in poor condition on the property, Sutter said.

During the initial visit, authorities found 55 dogs, 12 of which were "below normal body condition," the prosecutor's statement said.

Seven of the 12 dogs were in "thin body condition" and five in "very thin" condition. Two dogs were deemed to be in "iimmediate jeopardy" and were taken by law enforcement as a result, according to Sutter.

A local veterinarian evaluated those two dogs and said they were "malnourished and dehydrated" and "filthy in appearance," Sutter said.

Authorities also noted that clean drinking water was not available on the property for all of the dogs.

"In addition, most of the animal pens did not have any bedding, and the dogs were housed on dirt/mud with excessive feces present. Smaller dogs were found housed on plywood floors covered in mud and feces," Sutter said in the statement. "A dead rat was present inside of an enclosure and three animals were found to have wounds, eye, and skin conditions in need of evaluation by a veterinarian."

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Some of the dogs were puppies, and several dogs were pregnant, according to authorities, who also found pot-bellied pigs, chickens, cats and a goat on the property.

Gorrell was present during the initial search of her property, according to Sutter.

After the state veterinarian prepared a report on the animals in late January, the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office obtained a search warrant Monday for Gorrell's property.

The report also found that the other dogs on Gorrell's property are also "in jeopardy" and in need of temporary care through animal control or foster organizations, according to the prosecutor.

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Authorities reached out to animal advocacy groups, shelters and volunteers in the past few weeks to help find care for the animals found on the property, Sutter said.

Gorrell was arrested Tuesday and charged with neglect of a vertebrate animal in connection with the two dogs removed from her home on Jan. 15, according to Sutter.

"Additional charges may follow from the ongoing investigation," the statement said. "Law enforcement and other partner agencies continue working diligently to secure care for all animals taken from the property."

Gorrell appeared Wednesday for an initial hearing in Jefferson Superior Court, where a judge agreed to release her from jail on her own recognizance but ordered her to undergo a mental health evaluation, not possess or care for any animals and allow officers to inspect her property, the Madison Courier reported.

Sutter also thanked the mutliple agencies that have assisted in the case, including the Jefferson County Animal Shelter, Scott County Humane Society, Scott County Animal Control, Indiana Board of Animal Health and "everyone who has volunteered their time to assist in securing and caring for animals located at the property."

Reach Billy Kobin at bkobin@courierjournal.com or 502-582-7030. Support strong local journalism by subscribing today: courier-journal.com/subscribe.