A group of Christian County home owners wants officials to step in and take away more than 50 dogs. They say the Humane Society of Missouri and the Christian County Sheriff's Department are monitoring the situation but neighbors say they need relief now.

Shawn Rhoades says she’s always brought home strays, even as a child. Later in life she says working for a veterinarian started the trend again. Soon she says people started dumping puppies on her property near Highlandville. Rhoades says she couldn't afford to spay and neuter the dogs. She, her neighbors and other people in the community who have offered to help say the situation is out of control.

Neighbors say her 54 dogs run the neighborhood, destroying gardens and anything else left outside. "We wake up at 3:00 a.m. to dog fights. We have to sleep with the windows closed because of dog fights," Neighbor Deborah Gideon says. "The kids have to walk down the street with sticks and rocks."

During KSPR’s interview, several dogs attacked each other. The dogs rolled across the gravel road before Rhoades quickly broke them up.

Humane Society of Missouri Animal Cruelty Task Force Director Tim Rickey says the organization is investigating. Rickey says the organization wanted to give Rhoades a chance to find the dogs a home. Rickey says he will call KSPR Tuesday with an update.

Rhoades says she was trying to find the dogs homes. "It got to the point that I had to choose between paying my phone bill and feeding the dogs,” Rhoades says. “I chose to feed the dogs." With no way for adopters to contact her, neighbors worry she'll never follow through. "She does good for a little while then its right back to the way it was," Gideon says, "I call her a dog hoarder."

Rhoades says she has been accused of hording before. She moved from a home in Republic because the city changed an ordinance on the number of dogs someone could own. "I don't think I am a hoarder because I know this is not the best possible home for them,” Rhoades says.

Rhoades says she is willing to give the dogs to good homes or a no kill animal shelter but does not want the humane society to take them. Rhoades says the organization euthanizes too many animals. "You can't help her. I've tried,” Gideon says, “Nobody can help." Rhoades says she hopes to prove her neighbors wrong. "It’s my responsibility to make sure the dogs don't do these things, and I'm greatly embarrassed I can't,” Rhoades says.

Many who know Rhoades say they want homes for the dogs and mental help for her. "She’s a good person except for her issues with the dog," Gideon says. Another woman, who works at the Christian County Adoption Station, says she offered to transport Rhoades' dogs to SNAP, the Spay and Neuter Assistance Program. She says Rhoades backed out.

KSPR asked Rhoades how interested adopters and no kill animal shelters could get in touch with her since she doesn't have a phone. She says they can visit her home or contact her by mail. Her home address is 571 Mulling Dr Highlandville, MO 65669-8073. Her mailbox is PO Box 136 Highlandville, MO 65669-0136.