KHTS Radio Santa Clarita Radio – Santa Clarita News
Hundreds of animals are being rescued from a Lake Hughes property Friday as authorities execute a search warrant at a local rescue facility.
Beginning at approximately 7 a.m. Friday, officials with the Los Angeles County Department of Animal Care and Control (DACC) served a warrant in the 46000 block of 266th Street West for alleged violations of animal welfare laws.
As of Friday morning, DACC officials estimated roughly 700 dogs and cats were on the property and in the process of being rescued.
An update later Friday afternoon provided further insight into the investigation, noting that approximately 250 dogs and 66 cats had been present on the property at the time of the raid.
“These numbers remain preliminary as evaluations and documentation continue. While lower than initially anticipated, this is still a large-scale rescue effort requiring significant, ongoing care,” read the DACC statement.
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The operation is being conducted with support from investigators with the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office. More than 70 animal control staff members are on scene, with additional assistance from mutual-aid partners, including spcaLA, Pasadena Humane and Kern County Animal Services.
Representatives from the Los Angeles County departments of Public Works, Public Health and Regional Planning are also present to address other potential violations.
“This is the largest number of dogs and cats that DACC has ever seized and maybe the largest case ever in the United States are currently being triaged on site by veterinary medical staff. Those animals requiring emergency medical care will be immediately transported to veterinary hospitals,” DACC officials said in a Friday morning statement.
Animals in need of emergency care are being transported immediately to veterinary hospitals, while others will be taken to DACC animal care centers for further evaluation and treatment.
The animals were in the custody of Christine De Anda of Rock N Paws Animal Rescue, according to the DACC.
DACC noted it has experience managing large-scale animal seizures, including rescuing more than 350 Chihuahuas from an animal hoarding case in 2006, more than 100 venomous snakes and reptiles in 2017, and over 7,000 birds during the largest illegal cockfighting raid in U.S. history in Val Verde that same year.
The department has also handled evacuations involving up to 1,000 animals, primarily horses and livestock, during wildfires.
However, officials acknowledged that rescuing approximately 400 dogs and 300 cats will strain department resources and housing capacity.
To make room, DACC is working with adoption partners, rescue groups and other animal welfare agencies to transfer currently adoptable animals out of its shelters.
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While DACC animal care centers are typically closed to the public on Sundays, officials announced that the seven shelter locations throughout the county, including the Castaic Animal Care Center, will open from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday, March 22, to expand adoption and placement efforts.
“We are urgently requesting the public’s help to support the rescue and rehabilitation of these dogs and cats, “ DACC Director Marsha Mayeda said. “Please come to one of our animal care centers to adopt an animal in need or make a donation to the Los Angeles County Animal Care Foundation to support the medical, nutritional, and behavioral rehabilitation of these and other animals in DACC Care.”
The Los Angeles County Animal Care Foundation supports DACC through fundraising efforts that help fund spay and neuter programs, pet adoptions, public education, disaster response and overall animal welfare initiatives.
The DACC is referring the details of this case to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office, which will deermine if chargers will be filed against person invovled.
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