300 cats, dogs being rescued after search warrant served at Lake Hughes property

LAKE HUGHES, Calif. (KABC) — A rescue operation was underway for hundreds of dogs and cats at a property in Lake Hughes Friday morning, and it could be the largest case of its kind in the U.S.

A search warrant for violation of animal welfare laws was served on 266th Street West around 7 a.m., the Los Angeles County Department of Animal Care and Control (DACC) said in an Instagram post.

DACC officials said they found about 300 animals on the property, mostly dogs, with 50-75 cats. They were in the custody of Christine De Anda of Rock N Paws Animal Rescue. Officials initially estimated the number of animals found to have been 700.

“The animals are currently being triaged on site by veterinary and medical staff. Those animals requiring emergency medical care will be immediately transported to veterinary hospitals. The others will be transported to DACC animal care centers for further evaluation and care,” officials said in a press release.

More than 70 animal care and control staff were on scene for the rescue operation. Officials say it is the largest number of dogs and cats the DACC has ever seized, and it may be the largest case ever in the country. They said a charity chartered a plane to fly about 27 dogs and several cats to agencies in the Pacific Northwest.

The Animal Care and Control Department added that this was a years long effort and they had received several reports as early as 2021, of foul odors due to feces and amonia and overpopulation, but it wasn’t until recently that they were able to obtain a warrant to go in and remove the animals.

The massive operation is expected to put a strain on resources and housing capacity at county shelters.

“The problem is the cost of bringing a pet back to health after it’s been living in filthy conditions. And has parasites, and an illness, or maybe has been attacked by another animal because they’ve got them all in close quarters and they’re fighting over food, or they might be elderly and have heart conditions. It’s tremendous. The viewers at home who have pets know how expensive going to the vet is.,” said Teri Austin, president of the Amanda Foundation, a non-profit dedicated to saving dogs and cats in L.A. County and providing medical care.

The county says that no animas will be euthanized as a result of the operation.

“DACC is working with adoption partner rescue groups and other animal welfare agencies to transfer currently adoptable dogs and cats so that there is enough room to admit the rescued animals,” the agency said.

Marcia Mayeda, director of the DACC, is requesting the public’s help to support the rescue and rehabilitation of the animals – either through adoption or donations to the Los Angeles County Animal Care Foundation.

“We have seven animal care centers in the county. Five are taking in animals from this situation. And there they will be examined more thoroughly by veterinarians and medical staff, given any treatments they need, vaccinations. And any sort of attention that they may need,” Mayeda said.

DACC animal care centers are not usually open to the public on Sundays. However, they will be open from 11 a.m.-5 p.m. on Sunday, March 22 to expand placement efforts.