NEW PORT RICHEY, Fla. (AP) - A Dade City woman faces animal cruelty charges, four months after dogs were found sick or dead in her backyard.

Jail records who that 39-year-old Angelic Jean Lee was charged Tuesday with eight counts of animal cruelty. She was being held on $40,000 bail.

Pasco County Animal Services reports that an animal control officer found eight dogs in Lee's backyard in May. A puppy and an adult dog were dead, while six others were malnourished and being kept in filthy cages.

A veterinarian reported that the surviving animals had hook works, as well as other health problems.

Lee told authorities the dogs belonged to her, but she couldn't afford to feed them.