BILLINGS - Two women who helped care for some 200 English shepherd dogs seized from a home are suing Yellowstone County and the group trying to find new homes for the animals.

Penny Ronning and Kelly Dennehy filed suit Friday. They say the county and the group National English Shepherd Rescue didn't live up to an agreement to give them preference in adopting some of the dogs.

Neither National English Shepherd Rescue nor the Yellowstone County Attorney's Office could immediately be reached for comment Sunday.

Linda Kapsa, of Ballantine, pleaded no contest to aggravated animal cruelty after her dogs were found without adequate food, water, shelter and care last December. A judge sentenced her to 20 years of probation in August.

The dogs were housed at MetraPark and an animal clinic and cared for by county officials and volunteers. National English Shepherd Rescue was in charge of the adoption process.

"The promise that the volunteers would be given preference was the overriding factor in Linda Kapsa's decision to enter into the plea agreement and the petition for disposal of evidence rather than proceeding to jury trial," said the lawsuit filed on the women's behalf by Billings attorney Liz Honaker.

Honaker also has represented Kapsa.

Ronning asked to adopt four of the dogs she handled from January to August but was denied, according to the lawsuit. The lawsuit says Dennehy also was turned down when she attempted to adopt a dog.

The women are seeking immediate possession of two of the dogs as well as compensation for damages and court fees.