The woman from Hay River, N.W.T., who was charged with animal cruelty after RCMP raided her property last year and found more than 100 dogs was found not guilty of animal cruelty on Friday.

Linda Hobson enters the Hay River courthouse. A vet who testified in her defence said two dogs on her property that had to be euthanized were old, not suffering. CBC

Linda Hobson had been charged with one count of causing unnecessary pain to animals and one count of neglecting to provide suitable and adequate food, water, shelter and care for animals. Provincial court Judge Bob Halifax cleared her of both criminal charges, and a further count under the territory's Dog Act was dropped.

Witnesses who visited Hobson's property had said some dogs had six inches of feces under their paws and didn't have access to food or water. But Halifax decided that some witnesses may have embellished or given opinions, arriving at "inappropriate conclusions."

Hobson was originally charged with two counts of each criminal offence, but had two of the charges dropped in court on Thursday.

Vet vs. vet

The question of whether the dogs were experiencing pain and suffering came down to a battle of experts. Veterinarian Jim Stickney of High Level, Alta., testified some of the dogs were suffering when the property was raided in May 2010. He was called to the scene and said he euthanized three: one that was blind and had tumours, one whose paws were flipped under and it was sliding around on the tops of its paws and another with a leather collar embedded in its neck.

But another veterinarian — Stickney’s uncle — contradicted that testimony. Dewey Stickney of Manning, Alta., said two of the dogs were elderly, not suffering, while the in-grown dog collar was accidental.

In his decision, Judge Halifax said even the prosecution's vet admitted the dogs he put down could have been treated.

The judge also concluded that an accusation that Hobson's canines were left to drink contaminated water had not been proved because the water was never tested.

In closing arguments Thursday, defence lawyer Eamon O’Keefe had urged the judge to consider Hobson’s long history and reputation in the town as someone who loved animals and was instrumental in bringing veterinary care to the town, which many Northern communities don’t have.

Had Judge Bob Halifax found Hobson guilty, she would have faced 18 months in prison and a potential lifetime ban on owning or living with animals.

With files from the CBC's Allison Devereaux