A Burleigh County woman has relinquished ownership of 47 chihuahuas and six cats at the request of the Burleigh County Sheriff's Department.

Sheriff Pat Heinert said Lila Peterson agreed to give up the animals on Saturday.

The sheriff's department was alerted to Peterson's home, several miles outside the city limits, in early February. Deputies said Peterson had around 75 chihuahuas in her basement.

Peterson told the Tribune she gives away some dogs and sells others.

Heinert said a local veterinarian contacted the sheriff's department last week after inspecting an animal that had come from Peterson's home. The dog had parvo, a highly contagious canine disease spread through feces, the veterinarian said.

The sheriff's department decided more investigation was warranted after hearing from the veterinarian, Heinert said.

He said United States Department of Agriculture officials said the food, water and space at Peterson's home were not adequate for the number of dogs she had in the basement. The Burleigh County State's Attorney's office also is involved in the ongoing investigation, Heinert said.

Central Dakota Humane Society, the Bismarck Police Department impound and Jamestown's Prairie Paws Rescue were involved in taking custody of the dogs, Heinert said. He said 25 dogs are now in Jamestown, and the rest of the animals are at the local facilities.

For more information, check back to http://www.bismarcktribune.com or read Tuesday's paper.