INDIANAPOLIS -- State investigators on Tuesday seized animals from the property of a dog seller at the center of a criminal investigation.

The Indiana Attorney General's Office served paperwork this week alleging that Tammy Gilchrist owed nearly $193,000 in back income and sales taxes from her work in the dog-selling business, said spokeswoman Emily Potteer.

---

Had Dealings With Tammy Gilchrist?: Contact Call 6 For Help

---

Gilchrist -- who has had at least 51 complaints leveled against her concerning the health of her animals -- said she was unable to provide immediate payment, so investigators seized four horses and 55 dogs from her Owen County facility.

Attorney General Steve Carter told Call 6's Rafael Sanchez that the seizure is another step his office is taking to eventually revoke Gilchrist's retail license.

"This woman has left behind a trail of misery for many consumers over the past several years," he said. "The seizure today effectively puts her out of business."

Numerous customers said they paid Gilchrist, who operated under several assumed names, for puppies that were sick or were never delivered, or for kennel papers that were never provided.

In many cases, the animals had parvovirus, scabies, ringworm or were infested with fleas.

Of the animals seized on Tuesday, many were emaciated and suffered from obvious medical ailments like open sores and severe skin conditions, said Anne Sterling, director of the state Humane Society.

"The future of these animals is a lot brighter. It is extremely gratifying to know that we have given these animals the chance to live outside the confines of their squalid cages," she said.

The animals were placed with several humane organizations.

In February, Gilchrist told Call6 that she was getting out of the business. The state sued Gilchrist in March 2006 in a suit that is still pending. At the time she agreed to a court order that required her not to misrepresent the health of animals she was selling.

Recent complaints indicated that Gilchrist disobeyed the order. A court gave state and county authorities permission to examine the Owen County property and puppies on Monday.

Call6 was unable to reach Gilchrist's attorney for comment Tuesday afternoon.