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Rock puppy mill owner sentenced to a year in jail

Nicole Walton

ESCANABA, MI— A Delta County woman who pleaded guilty to operating a puppy mill has been sentenced to jail.

Thursday, Rebecca Johnson was given a year in jail, five years of probation with no animal ownership, and 500 hours of community service. She must also pay fines and restitution.

Officials say 135 dogs and 23 horses were rescued from her property in Rock in August of 2020. One hundred ten puppies were later born at the Delta Animal Shelter.

Johnson pleaded guilty in April to one felony count of abandoning/cruelty to 25 or more animals and one misdemeanor count of unregistered animal shelter/pound.

All the animals were cared for by the shelter and adopted out to families.

Nicole was born near Detroit but has lived in the U.P. most of her life. She graduated from Marquette Senior High School and attended Michigan State and Northern Michigan Universities, graduating from NMU in 1993 with a degree in English.