MAYVIEW, Mo. (KCTV) – A rural Missouri couple has been called to court after they allegedly abandoned nearly a dozen dogs at a home they were evicted from.
Lafayette County, Missouri, Circuit Court records filed on Monday, June 16, indicate that Dawn R. Rockhold, 55, of Mayview, and Ronald Gecias, 56, of Lexington, have been charged in connection with the abandonment of a pack of dogs at their former rental home.
A probable cause statement filed by the Lafayette County Sheriff’s Office revealed that on Sept. 27, 2024, law enforcement officials were called to a home in the 9000 block of Boundary Rd., south of Mayview, with reports of animal abuse.
When first responders arrived, they said they found nine canines outside the home with a half-full five-gallon bucket of water. Several metal feeding bowls, however, were completely empty.
At this point, investigators noted that the dogs were in “decent” condition concerning weight. However, a tan dog had lost its right eye and had been nursing a left paw injury. The caller reported that Rockhold and Gecias had been evicted and left the dogs.
When law enforcement officials contacted Rockhold, they said she claimed the dogs were not hers and that people had just been dropping them off there. She was told that since she had already been feeding the dogs, she was legally required to ensure they were cared for.
Nearly a week later, on Oct. 3, the Sheriff’s Office said it was contacted by the owner of the home again. They reported the dogs were still without proper care.
This time, when investigators arrived at the property, they found no one had been by to check on them since Rockhold was contacted. The water bucket was bone-dry and the dogs’ weight had dropped to the point that their ribs were exposed.
Inside the home, law enforcement officials said they found a tenth dog, lying on a feces-covered floor, that could not move. It had been infected with fleas and mites to the point of visible hair loss. There was no access to food or water.
Ultimately, the Sheriff’s Office said the dogs were seized by the Humane Society as Rockhold evaded further contact. As a result, she and Gecias have been charged with animal abuse. A misdemeanor that carries a maximum penalty of 6 months’ jail time.
Court documents revealed that a criminal summons had been issued for Rockhold and Gecias to appear at an initial hearing at 9 a.m. on Aug. 7.
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