A company that owned and operated a Waimanalo puppy farm will be in court next month on criminal and civil cases involving alleged animal cruelty.

The trial on a criminal complaint of 153 counts of misdemeanor animal cruelty charges against Bradley International will be heard by Circuit Judge Ed Kubo on Aug. 22. Each count is a misdemeanor punishable by up to a year in jail and a $2,000 fine.

The Hawaiian Humane Society also filed a civil suit seeking permanent custody of the 153 dogs confiscated May 26, and 79 puppies born to the seized dogs.

 Keoni Vaughn, Hawaiian Humane Society operations director, said a hearing on their civil lawsuit will be held Aug. 9.

No one from Bradley International appeared before Circuit Court Judge Richard Perkins this morning and a not guilty plea was entered by attorney Jason Burks in the criminal case.

After the brief arraignment proceedings Burks told reporters that the Humane Society and city prosecutor’s office “has not accurately portrayed” what Vaughn described as “the largest puppy mill bust.”

Burks said eventually a representative of the company will appear with him in court.

He said the case presented to the media is “a small picture of what happened.”

Vaughn said he was “disappointed” that Perkins Bradley International hasn’t surrendered the dogs.

“I was hoping that Bradley International would do the right thing and surrender the animals,” Vaughn said.

Honolulu Prosecutor Keith Kaneshiro filed 153 misdemeanor animal-cruelty charges against Bradley International on May 26. On Feb. 28, the Hawaiian Humane Society and Honolulu police seized 153 dogs at the Waimanalo business. Since then, 79 puppies have been born to the seized dogs.

The seizure happened after police received two complaints: one involving a barking dog and another involving a woman who was allegedly trespassing with five dogs. 

The seized animals are in foster care, veterinary clinics and at the Humane Society, Vaughn said.