Around 300 cats, dogs seized from Los Angeles-area property in largest animal control operation in county history
In a large-scale rescue Friday morning, the Los Angeles County Department of Animal Care and Control said a crew of more than 70 was on hand at a Lake Hughes property littered with cats and dogs.
According to the DACC, hundreds of cats and dogs were rescued from the property on Friday morning. The operation began after the department secured a search warrant in the 46000 block of 266th Street West. A news release initially claimed that upward of 700 dogs and cats were rescued.
The Los Angeles County Department of Animal Care updated the estimate later Friday in a news conference Friday, saying about 300 dogs and cats, not 700, were seized.
"We are happy that this has come about," neighbor Susan Zahnter said. "It's been pretty horrific to see what's been going on there."
The search was authorized on allegations of a violation of animal welfare laws. Crews from spcaLA, Pasadena Humane and Kern County Animal Services were also at the scene, as well as representatives from the Los Angeles County Departments of Public Works, Public Health, and Regional Planning who are dealing with other potential violations.
In a statement, the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office said it assisted with the search due to an animal cruelty allegation, after reports came in that animals were neglected by overcrowding. No arrests were made, nor were charges filed as of Friday afternoon.
"I'm not surprised because we have not only listened to [the animals], we have smelled them," Zahnter said. "The owner is horrific. There's no septic system on the property for the kennel."
Aerial images showed dozens of animal carriers across the site, with at least one animal kennel occupied by a dog. Dozens of vehicles belonging to the DACC and other agencies lined the street outside the property.
The DACC says this is the largest number of cats and dogs seized in the department's history.
Records show that the property is owned by Christine Deanda, who is also listed as the head of the nonprofit called "Rock 'N Pawz."
"She's supposedly been a licensed 501 (c) (3) for 26 years, according to her website. She's been collecting animals for a long time," Zahnter said. "Three years with the current owner that has been running an unlicensed kennel in an area that is not zoned for kennels."
Marica Mayeda, director of DACC, described the site as a "hoarding situation." She added that animals were subjected to unsanitary conditions, confined to crates and had limited access to water.
"Very filthy," Mayeda said. "Our staff have to wear respirators and hazmat suits to go into the property."
She said her team had prepared for at least a week before carrying out the operation by moving animals out of their facilities and to other shelters.
"This is going to create a population pressure on our ability to keep them," Mayeda said.
To support the influx of hundreds of new pets to their system, the DACC said all seven of its Animal Care Centers will have doors open between 11 a.m. and 5 p.m. Sunday for adoptions.
Their seven locations include: