The charges were shocking when they became public. A member of the board of directors of the Suffolk Humane Society had been accused of animal cruelty and failure to provide for animals after Suffolk animal control officers visited her home and allegedly found animals without water and moldy crates.

Some folks around the area were outraged that an activist who was expected to work on behalf of animal welfare could wind up in such a situation. Others who knew 80-year-old Elizabeth Ann Epps knew there had to be more to the story than was publicly known. One writer called her “the most caring, animal-loving person I have ever known” in a letter to the editor published during the summer in the Suffolk News-Herald. The letter-writer’s sentiments were widely shared, as other letters, phone calls and website comments made clear during the ensuing months.

In fact, there was more to the story, and the extenuating circumstances of Mrs. Epps’ case convinced prosecutors to drop a dozen charges against her this week.

When they first visited Mrs. Epps’ home back in May, animal control officers removed 13 cats, many of them in crates, from the residence. There also were 14 chickens, 10 geese and seven peacocks in the yard. Someone had reported the situation to police, and animal control had become involved.

At the time, Mrs. Epps told a reporter that she had been in the hospital recovering from a stroke when the situation occurred, and the woman who normally helps her was out of town after a death in the family. It has been suggested that someone who knew she was in the hospital at the time might have maliciously reported her, seeking to disparage her name in the community.

Mrs. Epps said she signed herself out of the hospital when she learned nobody else was available to take care of the animals. “It just sounds a lot worse than it was,” Epps said at the time. “Nothing was beaten. Nothing was cruel. Nothing was dirty. I have never been cruel to anything.” Those who knew her said much the same thing about her.

On Thursday, Mrs. Epps said she is glad the charges are now behind her. So are we.