The Humane Society of the United States works with the Wolfeboro Police Dept. to rescue approximately 70 Great Danes from a suspected puppy mill on Friday, June 16, 2017, in Wolfeboro, N.H.   (Meredith Lee/The HSUS)
The Humane Society of the United States works with the Wolfeboro Police Dept. to rescue approximately 70 Great Danes from a suspected puppy mill on Friday, June 16, 2017, in Wolfeboro, N.H. (Meredith Lee/The HSUS) Credit: Courtesy Humane Society of the U.S.

CONCORD — A lawyer for a woman convicted of housing dozens of filthy and sick Great Danes in her New Hampshire mansion is scheduled to argue her appeal before the state Supreme Court in January.

Christina Fay was sentenced on 17 animal cruelty charges last year. A judge ruled she would serve no jail time, but that she would be responsible for paying back nearly $2 million for care of the dogs.

Authorities seized 84 dogs from Fay’s Wolfeboro, N.H., home last year. They said the animals were living in filth and suffering from health problems. Fay said she wanted to be the primary U.S. collector of European Great Danes and had been acquiring and breeding them since 2014.

Arguments are scheduled for Jan. 9. Fay questions possible violations of privacy rights, barred testimony and other matters.