DALTON, Ga. — A Dalton woman who was indicted for six counts of aggravated cruelty to animals and 16 counts of cruelty to animals has pleaded not guilty in Whitfield County Superior Court.

The case against Morgan Kinder, 26, is scheduled for a calendar call on Sept. 19 when the attorneys on both sides are expected to say if they are ready for trial. A trial date was set by Judge William T. Boyett for Sept. 23.

Dalton attorney Sam Sanders, who is representing Kinder, declined to comment.

Kinder and her husband Stephen became the focus of investigations in Dalton and Cleveland, Tennessee, after several people came forward with complaints of neglect concerning Stephen Kinder’s dog training business in Cleveland.

Detectives from the Dalton Police Department served a search warrant on Feb. 7 at the couple’s home at 810 Mattie Drive in Dalton, which was described by the police to be in “deplorable condition.” Police found many animals which were “malnourished and living in filth, with the dogs all in kennels and many of them covered in their own waste,” according to the police department.

Stephen Kinder was scheduled to meet with a Dalton Police Department detective later that day, but killed himself with a gunshot in what the Cleveland Police Department ruled to be a suicide.

Morgan Kinder was indicted for aggravated cruelty to animals for the death of five snakes and one turtle, according to the indictment.

The 16 misdemeanor charges are related to mistreatment of dogs for failing “to provide to such animal adequate food, water, sanitary conditions or ventilation that is consistent with what a reasonable person of ordinary knowledge would believe is the normal requirement and feeding habit for such animal’s size, species breed, age and physical condition …”

Morgan Kinder was arrested on Feb. 21 and was released on bond.