Hundreds of dogs and cats were found in a home in Lake Hughes Friday morning, in what officials called the largest animal rescue in the county, and possibly the country, ever.
The cats and dogs were found as a part of a morning search warrant served by Los Angeles County Department of Animal Care and Control Friday morning.
When workers arrived at the 46000 block of 266th Street, they estimated about 700 animals were in the property.
The warrant and massive rescue was sparked by an investigation into allegations of animal cruelty at the facility, including incidents of neglect and overcrowding, according to a spokesperson with the Los Angeles County district attorney’s office.
No arrests have been made and no charges have been filed, the spokesperson said.
More than 70 workers with Los Angeles County Animal Care and Control were called to assist in the operation, and the agency was also reaching to nearby agencies for help.
The animals had been in custody by Christine De Anda of Rock N Pawz animal rescue, according to the statement from Los Angeles County Department of Animal Care and Control.
De Anda could not be reached for comment. Messages seeking comment from Rock N Pawz were not immediately returned.
According to its website, Rock N Pawz is a nonprofit animal rescue organization. Its site featured multiple images of animals available for adoption, and others who had been recently adopted.
The organization also featured merchandise for customers, like socks with the faces of dogs knitted on them, and requests for volunteers.
According to its site, the organization was founded in 2000.
The animals found at the property were being inspected on site by veterinary medical staff, and animals needing medical help were to be sent to nearby veterinary hospitals, the agency said in a statement.
The number of dogs and cats, and size of the operation, the agency said in the social media post, was sure to put a strain on the agency. Services at all seven of its centers were expected to be affected as workers tried to respond to the incident.
“Due to a large-scale animal rescue operation involving all seven of our Animal Care Centers, some services may experience longer wait times today,” the agency said on social media. “Many of our staff and volunteers are actively assisting with this critical effort.”
The agency had reached out to other organizations for help, including spcaLA, Pasadena Humane and Kern County Animals Services.
The number of dogs and cats being rescued was so large, that Los Angeles County Department of Animal Care and Control officials announced they would also remain open to the public on Sunday, between 11 a.m. and 5 p.m., in order to find homes for some of the animals.
“We are urgently requesting the public’s help to support the rescue and rehabilitation of these dogs and cats,” said DACC Director Marcia Mayeda in a statement.
Although the Friday incident was expected to be the largest seizure of animals in the county’s history, the agency has seen previous incidents where a large amount of animals were rescued.
In 2006, Los Angeles County Department of Animal Care and Control rescued more than 350 Chihuahuas from a home. In 2017, the agency also rescued more than 100 venomous snakes and reptiles from a animal hoarding incident. In 2017, the agency discovered more than 7,000 birds during a cockfighting investigation. According to the agency, it has also rescued up to 1,000 animals, such as horses and livestock, during past wildfires.
