Critically ill woman faces animal cruelty charges

LILBURN - A Gwinnett County woman who her family says is critically ill with cancer faces misdemeanor animal cruelty charges after police found 10 dead cats and dozens of live ones at her vacated home Friday. <br> <br> Gwinnett police spokesman Ray Dunlap said neighbors complained about a ``horrible smell&#39;&#39; at the home of Donna Jester Sims, 54, who had been staying with her daughter. <br> <br> ``Neighbors said they hadn&#39;t seen her in a while, and knew she was ill and thought the woman might be in the house dead,&#39;&#39; Dunlap said. <br> <br> Instead, officers found several cats in the house, with many others outside and scattered throughout the neighborhood. <br> <br> A large number of cats were taken to the Gwinnett County animal shelter Friday night, Dunlap said. <br> <br> County Magistrate Wendell Peevy said the arrest warrant set a bond of $1,000. The maximum penalty for the charge is a year in jail and fine of $1,000, he said.