About 700 dogs and cats were being rescued from a property in the Lake Hughes area Friday, county animal control officials announced.
Personnel from the Los Angeles County Department of Animal Care & Control served a search warrant in the 46000 block of 226th Street West at 7 a.m. Friday before mounting a large-scale rescue operation, officials said.
“The warrant was served with support from investigators from the Office of the District Attorney,” according to a statement posted on social media.
According to the department, which was receiving assistance from spcaLA, the Pasadena Humane Society and Kern County Animal Servcies, more than 70 animal care and control staff descended on the property.
“Also present for other violations are representatives from the Los Angeles County departments of Public Works, Public Health and Regional Planning.
According to the Department of Animal Care & Control, this represents the largest number of cats and dogs it has ever seized, and could well be the most ever seized in the U.S.
The animals — about 400 dogs and 300 cats — were being triaged, with those needing immediate care being sent to veterinary hospitals, while the others will go to department shelters.