KINGMAN - A woman who moved to Valle Vista earlier this year is facing a number of charges after police found several emaciated dogs in her home.

A Mohave County Animal Control Enforcement officer responded to the home of Heather Bridget Kral in the 10200 block of East Valley Road Tuesday after receiving reports of animals that were howling and appeared to be in pain.

The officer found a German shepherd locked in a plastic travel crate sitting in the sun without any water. Another dog was also found on the front porch.

Both dogs were emaciated and their fur was falling out, according to Trish Carter with the Mohave County Sheriff's Office. The officer took custody of both dogs because no one was home at the time but could hear more dogs inside the home.

Police executed a search warrant at the home the following morning. They found four more unhealthy dogs in the home as well as a makeshift pipe with burnt residue.

Three of the dogs were taken to a veterinarian where they are being treated for severe malnutrition and sores from being kept in crates, Carter said. The animals were so starved, they appeared to be eating their own toe nails, she said.

Kral recently moved to Valle Vista from Washington state. She told police she was breeding the dogs. One was a lab and the others were German shepherds.

Child Protective Services responded and took custody of Kral's 2-year-old child. The MCAC Enforcement Officer took possession of the dogs.

Kral, 37, was arrested for felony possession of drug paraphernalia, and the following 12 misdemeanors; six counts of cruelty to animals, four counts of no dog license and two counts of over the limit of dog.

"The Sheriff's Office rigorously pursues those people involved in animal abuse activity and makes every effort to ensure the cases our prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law," said Chief Deputy Jim McCabe.