A Savannah woman faces a felony charge of animal neglect after a Kansas City group rescued more than two dozen dogs from her home. Officials say a high school track player and two high school staff members were bitten last month by a dog on the property.

Shirley Hatfield pleaded guilty in 2009 to two misdemeanor offenses related to animal abuse. Hatfield says she couldn’t find homes for the dogs, and was spending more on dog food than she did on her mortgage.

She said she did not want the dogs destroyed. She said she is relieved that Wayside Waifs has taken them in.

Wayside Waifs said Monday that it took two trips to rescue all the dogs. Wayside Waifs responded at the request of the Andrew County Sheriff’s Department.