MAUSTON, Wis. -- Workers with the Juneau County Humane Society were in court on Monday to face charges of abusing the animals that they were supposed to help.

Three women -- former Juneau County shelter manager Lynn Rittenhouse-Leatherberry, of Elroy, June Kline, of Mauston, and Michelle Ott, of Wonewoc -- are facing more than 40 charges of mistreating animals in January.

Both Ott and Kline have agreed not to have contact with animals, including their own pets, WISC-TV reported.

Four of the charges accuse the women of negligence that lead to the death of an animal while in the shelter's care.

About 40 animals had to be rescued from poor living conditions in the shelter, which is located in New Lisbon, in January, WISC-TV reported