Louisiana: Bayou Blue woman Rhonda Hall, 58, wanted after 30 dogs found on property

LOUISIANA -- A Bayou Blue woman is on the run after deputies found about 30 small dogs on her property without sufficient shelter or clean drinking water, the Lafourche Parish Sheriff's Office said.

Rhonda Hall, 58, agreed to surrender the dogs to the Lafourche Parish Animal Shelter after deputies were dispatched to her home on Palmisano Drive on Tuesday, Sheriff Craig Webre said in a news release. The Sheriff's Office had gotten a complaint that Hall was not properly caring for the dogs.

Webre said deputies moved 14 dogs Tuesday but returned later that day to find Hall had left with several other dogs. The Sheriff's Office has been unable to contact her.

Hall is wanted on 14 counts of simple cruelty to animals and 14 counts of failure to vaccinate animals, and additional charges are expected, Webre said.

“Certainly, we want to conclude our investigation and charge this woman accordingly,” the sheriff said in a statement. “Our larger concern right now, however, is for the welfare of these animals. If she could not properly care for them at her residence, then it's reasonable to assume she cannot provide proper care on the run. We simply ask Mrs. Hall to consider the welfare of these animals and turn herself over so that we can get them to the animal shelter and, hopefully, to families which can adopt them.”

Shelter Manager Hilary Knight said Hall had agreed to surrender eight dogs a day until all were gone. However, she only surrendered eight dogs.

Animal control picked up six other dogs that were roaming the property after Hall left, Knight said. The shelter is holding those as part of the cruelty investigation, but the eight Hall surrendered can be placed in homes now.

"Some we'll have to evaluate as far as health goes. But, for the most part, the ones she surrendered were pretty healthy," Knight said. "The first eight she surrendered were all heartworm negative. The other six have some issues. One has a big tumor, two are blind."

The group includes a couple of puppies less than 6 months old, but Knight estimates the other dogs are between 3 and 5 years old. Most are Shih Tzu mixes.

Knight said she wants authorities to find Hall as soon as possible for the sake of the dogs with her.

"This person did not have any money," she said. “She can't be very far."

Anyone with information on Hall's whereabouts is asked to contact Crime Stoppers Bayou Region by calling 1-800-743-7433, texting GIVEATIP and a message to 274637, visiting crimestoppersbr.org or using the TipSubmit mobile application. A reward of up to $1,000 is offered for information leading to her arrest, and tipsters may remain anonymous.

(NOLA.com - May 13, 2016)