By Monique Roth
L’Observateur

LAPLACE — A LaPlace woman is behind bars for operating an illegal animal rescue facility in her home, which has resulted in 43 animals being placed in the parish shelter since May.

Joyce Charles, 46, of 1953 Longwood Court in LaPlace, was arrested Tuesday for cruelty to animals and improper zoning use charges. She remains in custody in lieu of a $17,000 bond.

St. John the Baptist Parish Sheriff’s Office detectives initiated an investigation on Charles July 11 after a St. John Parish Animal Control officer reported a cruelty to animals case.

That was as follow-up, the Sheriff’s Office reported, to a May 7 action when Animal Control removed 33 animals from the residence that were living in sub-par conditions.

Charles’ “Happy Yappy Doggy Rescue” had “animals … living in kennel cabs stacked throughout the house that were covered with dirt, grime, urine and feces,” authorities said in a release. “Some animals were kept in the garage with no food, water, nor air circulation.”

Parish Communications Director Paige Falgoust said nine of the 33 dogs are available for adoption at the St. John Parish Animal Shelter, located at 488 W. 2nd St. in LaPlace. She said the other 24 dogs were either adopted or sent to a rescue group.

The Sheriff’s Office said Animal Control officers instructed Charles in May she was not allowed to operate the rescue operation from her home and was not allowed to house animals in her home.

Animal Control recently received information Charles continued to take in animals, and Sheriff’s Office detectives, with assistance from Animal Control, executed a search warrant Tuesday at the residence and seized 10 more dogs.

Falgoust said the dogs rescued this week will be held for 15 days, and if the bond payment is not received from the owner, the dogs will become adoptable by the public.