SAUGUS DOG HANDLER CHARGED WITH CRUELTY.

Byline: Karen Maeshiro Staff Writer

LANCASTER - A Saugus professional dog handler has been charged with felony cruelty to animals and misdemeanor driving under the influence of alcohol in connection with a fiery camper van crash that killed 23 Shetland sheep dogs.

Dorothea Adkins, 48, was returning to her home from a dog show in Las Vegas when her van crashed off the road at Sierra Highway and Shannondale Road in Acton last October.

``She turned onto a road that was the wrong road, ended up driving into someone's concrete driveway, continues past it and drove into a dirt field behind the house,'' Deputy District Attorney Kelly Cromer said. ``The car dove into a ditch. Because the car was hot, it started brush on fire in the field. She got out and one dog got out. That was it.''

Cromer said Adkins refused to be tested for her blood alcohol level but was charged with driving under the influence because of her actions, she failed a field sobriety test, and the odor of alcohol detected by California Highway Patrol officers.

Adkins' attorney, J. Michael Flanagan, said he did not understand the basis for the animal cruelty charge because the crash was an accident.

``This was an accident that resulted from an overheating van catching brush on fire,'' Flanagan said.

Adkins, who is free on her written promise to appear in court, is scheduled to be arraigned next week. If convicted, she faces up to three years and six months in prison.

Cromer said the crash was not an accident.

``It's not an accident when you have care of these animals and you choose to drive while you are under the influence,'' Cromer said. ``Think of it as someone driving with children in the car. No one would argue with the fact that you had endangered lives of children. And if there was an accident, you would be guilty of child abuse. Well it's the same argument for the dogs. It's not intentional. It's failure to provide care.''

Cromer said Adkins shows dogs for other people. Some of the dogs killed in the van fire belonged to other people.

Exhaust from Adkins' van ignited a 2-acre brush fire that spread toward nearby homes, officials said. Adkins was able to save one of the dogs and fought with sheriff's deputies to return to the burning wreckage to save the others, officials said.

After firefighters extinguished the blaze, they learned that there were dogs in cages in the back of the van. Authorities said Adkins threatened suicide and was hospitalized for psychological testing.

George Page of Maryland, who has had dogs under Adkins' care in the past, said she has bred Shelties and handled several breeds of dogs for clients.

Page said several years ago there had been a fire at a kennel at Adkins' home while she had been away and some dogs were killed. Since that fire, Adkins tended to keep the dogs with her.