Woman w/6 dogs that ran loose after freeway chase had previous allegations of animal abuse

SANTA ANA, Calif. (KABC) -- The woman charged with leading police on a chase that ended with her six dogs wandering the 710 Freeway had previous problems with the law, including allegations of animal abuse.

Tiffini Tobe, 47, appeared before a judge for her first court appearance Wednesday afternoon. She is suspected of drinking and driving, then leading California Highway Patrol officers on a chase from Orange County to Long Beach Monday night.

When she surrendered, her six dogs that were along for the ride ran loose on the freeway.

Tobe had already been in trouble before the incident, she failed to show up for a court hearing on animal abuse charges. Prosecutors said Tobe failed to properly care for a 4-year-old pit bull that had been euthanized in 2015.

"He was in very bad shape. Not only did he have existing complications to his health, but he also gnawed through and chewed off part of his rear leg to the point where he exposed his bone," said Roxi Fyad, spokesperson for the Orange County District Attorney's Office.

Outside of the court room, family members denied the allegations against Tobe.

Linda Klugs, Tobe's aunt, said her niece never neglected animals and that she loved them.

The six dogs that ran loose - three pit bull puppies, their mother and two other dogs - were rounded up after the chase and are being cared for at a Long Beach animal shelter.

Prosecutors said Tobe was not supposed to own any dogs because of last year's animal abuse allegations. In court, a public defender entered a not guilty plea on Tobe's behalf.

She is expected back in court on Jan. 28. Until then, she remains in custody with her bail set at $60,000.