Woman charged with felonies in Colleton dog-hoarding case

The Colleton County Sheriff’s Office arrested Lynne Lucille Vanhouse, 68, on Friday after charging her with 10 counts of ill treatment of animals.

The charges are felonies, according to Lt. Shane Roberts of the Sheriff’s Office. They stem from a Sheriff’s Office investigation and stand in addition to the 10 misdemeanors Vanhouse was charged with after a Colleton County Animal and Environmental Control investigation, according to Roberts.

The Sheriff’s Office identified the address of the property from which the dogs and cats were seized as 19897 Augusta Highway in the Round O community. Employees at Hilton Head Humane’s Spay/Neuter Alliance & Clinic collaborated with Beaufort County Animal Services to assess and treat the ailing dogs after they were rescued May 16.

“Deputies discovered 68 dogs and 5 cats living in deplorable conditions,” said a news release from the Sheriff’s Office. “The animals were taken into protective custody. During the investigation, numerous deceased animal carcasses were found on the ground and in holding pens.”

Vanhouse was transported to the Colleton County Detention Center, according to the news release. Her bond was set at $50,000.

This story was originally published June 3, 2016 at 7:28 PM with the headline "Woman charged with felonies in Colleton dog-hoarding case."