In what investigators are calling “one of the most significant animal cruelty investigations in county history,” a Hallsboro woman faces 94 charges after nearly 100 animals were seized from inhumane conditions.
Deborah Ross Dahl, 70, of 364 Pone Hill Rd., Hallsboro faces 93 charges of animal cruelty and one count of practicing medicine without a license, according to the sheriff’s office. More charges may be pending. She is being held under $20,000 secured bond.
In late May, Columbus Animal Protective Services was notified that Dahl had allegedly performed an operation on a French bulldog, then posted a video of the surgery to social media. The CCSO Investigative Division was notified of the allegations on May 27, and contacted APS and the State Veterinary Medical Board.
APS and the sheriff’s office received multiple tips alleging Dahl had previously performed the same surgery on other animals, and that dogs at her home were being kept in inhumane conditions. On May 29, Columbus APS conducted a welfare check at 364 Pone Hill Road in Hallsboro. Investigators discovered “unsanitary and hazardous living conditions and numerous animals exhibiting signs of neglect.”
APS and law enforcement were shocked at what they found.
“The team found dogs pacing atop their own waste, the air thick with ammonia, and the anxious chorus of neglected animals echoing across ramshackle kennels,” the sheriff’s office said in a press release. Evidence collected at the scene was shared with the N.C. Department of Agriculture.
Between June 4 and June 16, 2025, CCSO detectives carried out extensive interviews and collaborated with licensed veterinarians and regulatory agencies to verify the scope of unlicensed veterinary practices and animal cruelty. Based on these findings, the Columbus County Sheriff’s Office consulted with the Columbus County District Attorney’s Office, which determined there was probable cause to pursue criminal charges.
On June 24, at approximately 7:30 a.m., deputies executed arrest warrants and a search warrant at the Pone Hill Road property. Dahl was taken into custody without incident. Temperatures that day were in excess of 100 degrees, the sheriff’s office said.
Conditions were so bad on the property that Hallsboro Volunteer Fire Department provided ventilation fans, masks and other protective gear for APS and law enforcement.
Working with the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) and Columbus APS, officers seized 76 dogs of a variety of large and small breeds, and 14 rabbits. They also recovered the carcass of one dog that was taken for forensic examination. The dogs included English Bulldogs, French bulldogs, Cane Corsos, Shih Tzus and mixed breed dogs.
Detectives presented additional evidence resulting in 14 further counts of animal cruelty on July 1. Ms. Dahl was served with these new charges.
On July 2, 2025, a second search warrant was executed at the same property, resulting in the confiscation of two Highland cows and two donkeys. The livestock were removed and transported to Columbus County Animal Protective Services.
“The majority of the seized animals were transported to recovery facilities operated by the ASPCA, where they are receiving comprehensive sheltering, medical care, and behavioral treatment and enrichment pending the resolution of this case,” the press release said.
Sheriff Bill Rogers said the case was possibly the worst animal cruelty case in the agency’s history.
“This is the largest animal cruelty operation our agency has ever taken on,” he said. “What detectives and animal protection teams encountered at this property was heartbreaking—animals forced to live in filth, many deprived of basic medical care, food, and dignity.
“This investigation began because one person chose to speak up, and it grew into a unified effort to save as many lives as possible. The rescue of these animals is the result of dedicated teamwork and a community that refused to look away. I want to personally thank the ASPCA, Columbus County Animal Protective Services, the Columbus County District Attorney’s Office, and every professional who responded with skill and compassion.”
Rogers noted that Southeastern Veterinary Hospital worked closely with the investigation to help care for the animals.
The investigation is ongoing, Rogers said, and additional charges may be filed as veterinary reports and evidence analysis are completed.
“The Columbus County Sheriff’s Office urges residents to report suspected cases of animal cruelty immediately,” Rogers said. “Community vigilance saves lives, and your call can make the difference for animals with no voice of their own.”
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