Six months after authorities seized hundreds of dogs from Linda Kapsa and charged her with aggravated animal cruelty, the Ballantine dog breeder is back in the puppy business.

"I've got puppies for sale," Kapsa said recently while holding two 5-week old puppies. "I'd like to advertise them, but do I dare?"

Kapsa declined to say how many more puppies she has, but she acknowledged that she has "roughly" 20 English shepherds that eluded capture during a raid at her property Dec. 30. During the raid, sheriff's deputies and volunteers seized more than 200 dogs they allege were not properly cared for.

Kapsa's criminal trial is scheduled to begin July 13, and authorities appear frustrated in their efforts to remove the remaining dogs from her care. Two weeks ago, a District Court judge denied a request from prosecutors for an order prohibiting Kapsa from keeping companion animals while the criminal case is pending.

"It's inappropriate at this time for us to discuss this case so close to trial," Deputy County Attorney Ingrid Rosenquist said recently when asked about the dogs remaining on Kapsa's property. "Our office is diligently working to prepare the case for trial, and that's where our focus is right now."

With word that Kapsa's remaining dogs are having puppies, others involved in the case worry that Kapsa may again find herself with more dogs than she can handle.

"Twenty dogs could turn into a hundred in a hurry, and that's a concern," said Sheriff's Lt. Mike Schieno, who has been coordinating the efforts to care for the dogs seized from Kapsa.

David Pauli, regional director for the Humane Society of the United States, was involved in the seizure at Kapsa's property in December. Pauli said he supports the county's effort to remove the remaining dogs from Kapsa's care.

"I'm less worried about 20 dogs than 200, but we of course would like to see all the dogs be handled inclusively," he said.

Schieno said authorities were aware that a few dogs eluded them in December. Several of the dogs ran off and could not be found, Schieno said, and Kapsa refused to help round them up.

By mid-January, a neighbor reported that several of Kapsa's dogs were running loose off her 10-acre property. The Sheriff's Office has received several similar complaints during the ensuing months, Schieno said.

In court records, Rosenquist said attempts to negotiate with Kapsa over the care of remaining dogs had failed.

Kapsa said she has no intention of giving up her remaining dogs, and she remains vigilant for what she said were efforts to entice the dogs off her property so they can be captured by an animal control officer.

Kapsa said she would not let authorities take her remaining dogs.

"Over my dead body," she said. "There is a point where you draw the line. Ideally what I'd like is to get them all back and adopt them out. I adopt them out. I will not ever give them to the county."

Kapsa said she wants to continue her Shady Lane Kennels dog breeding business. She said 50 breeding dogs would be about right for the operation, with a few more of her favorites kept as pets. She had so many dogs in December, she said, because she was having a hard time selling her puppies.

"I'll never get back up to that number again," she said.