Cpl Steve Hernandez says detectives made contact with Lisa Burnett, 23, on Thursday.
According to detectives Burnett handed over custody of the animals to a local veterinarian for treatment.
Investigators say Burnett will still face charges of up to 25 counts of misdemeanor animal cruelty given the condition of the dogs, which authorities said are suffering from severe malnutrition and mange.
Earlier:
Police search for a woman facing 25 counts of animal cruelty
WEDNESDAY AUG 29 - Investigators have charged a White County woman with 25 counts of animal cruelty but found something unexpected when they arrived at her home Wednesday.
Empty bags of dog food. Trash everywhere, covered with animal waste. White County detectives this afternoon converging on a house 126 Crystal Creek Road west of Searcy. They found dog chains, cages, a few chickens, but no dogs.
"We're very active about pursuing people who are treating animals in a cruel way and right now we're wanting to make sure these dogs are being taken care of in a way they're supposed to be taken care of," Cpl Steve Hernandez says.
Investigators believe there were several dogs in the pens yesterday because a detective saw them. Where they're at now, that's the big question.
"Through an investigation, if we're going to come out and actually get the animals ourselves, we've never showed up and within 24 hours, 25 dogs are gone," Hernandez says.
Now investigators want to find Lisa Burnett. Detectives say the 23-yea old was arrested and convicted of misdemeanor animal cruelty three years ago.
Now she's under investigation again after detectives picked up an anonymous tip of dogs not getting enough food and suffering in poor health.
"Right now, we don’t know if she is trying to do the right thing and take care of the dogs or she is trying to hide the dogs from us and continue what she was doing," Hernandez says.
The goal now, find her and the dogs alive.
Detectives say Burnett could face an additional charge of hindering an investigation if its learned she is intentionally concealing the location of the dogs.
(FOX16 - Aug 29, 2012)
