As part of a desperate effort to make room in local shelters for some of the more than 300 cats and dogs rescued from a property in the Lake Hughes area amid allegations of animal cruelty, an animal-rescue group plans to fly about 100 animals from L.A. to the Chicago area early Tuesday morning.
Paws for Life K9 Rescue and the air-transport nonprofit Wings of Rescue plan to move nearly 100 dogs — many of them mothers and puppies — out of a Los Angeles Animal Services shelter and fly them to the Chicago area where they can be placed for adoption.
“By flying these at-risk pets from severely overcrowded shelters to communities with open kennels and adopters, the two groups are creating urgently needed space for the hundreds of dogs and cats seized in the recent historic hoarding case, while giving the transported animals an immediate chance at safe, loving homes,” according to a statement released by organizers of the flight. “Teams from both organizations, including more than a dozen staff and volunteers, will work through the night transporting the dogs from West Valley Animal Shelter to Van Nuys Airport and loading them onto a life-saving Wings of Rescue flight in the pre-dawn hours (Tuesday) morning. ”
When the plane lands in Gary, Indiana, on Tuesday afternoon, television personality and longtime rescue advocate Giuliana Rancic will be on hand to welcome the dogs.
The Los Angeles County Department of Animal Care and Control took the unprecedented step of opening its Animal Care Centers on Sunday from 11 a.m.-5 p.m. to help more animals find homes.
“Right now, all seven of our care centers are supporting a large-scale animal seizure — an effort that is placing significant demand on our staff, space, and resources. Creating space is critical so we can continue to provide care for animals coming into our system. Adoption is one of the most immediate and impactful ways you can help.”
Roughly 250 dogs and 66 cats were found during the raid Friday in Lake Hughes.
The county department initially announced that about 400 dogs and 300 cats were being triaged, but that total was later downgraded.
“We are grateful the number was not as high as first feared, but the impact on our care centers and staff is still very real,” officials said. “Hundreds of animals are now receiving medical evaluations, treatment, and daily care. This is an active investigation, and details remain limited. What we can share is this: our teams are working around the clock to ensure every animal receives the care they deserve.”
Personnel from the department served a search warrant in the 46000 block of 226th Street West at 7 a.m. Friday before mounting the 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.
Staffers from spcaLA, the Pasadena Humane Society, Kern County Animal Services and more than 70 animal care and control staffers descended on the property as the rescue effort began.
“Also present for other violations (were) representatives from the Los Angeles County departments of Public Works, Public Health and Regional Planning.
Animals needing immediate care were sent to veterinary hospitals, while the others were taken to department shelters.
Los Angeles County Supervisor Kathryn Barger issued a statement Friday on the rescue effort.
“This is a heartbreaking situation. I want to recognize the dedicated personnel from the Los Angeles County Department of Animal Care and Control, along with our partner agencies, who are working tirelessly … under extreme heat and challenging conditions to carry out a massive rescue operation in Lake Hughes,” Barger said.
“Animals in urgent need of medical attention are being transported to veterinary hospitals for immediate care, while others are being safely relocated to Los Angeles County animal care centers and partner facilities, including sites in Kern County. Every step is being taken to ensure these animals receive the compassion and treatment they deserve.”
More information about adopting the rescued cats and dogs is available at animalcare.lacounty.gov.
The department’s shelters are located at:
— Agoura Animal Care Center, 29525 Agoura Road (agoura@animalcare.lacounty.gov);
— Baldwin Park Animal Care Center, 4275 N. Elton St. (baldwinpark@animalcare.lacounty.gov);
— Carson/Gardena Animal Care Center, 216 W. Victoria St. (carson@animalcare.lacounty.gov);
— Castaic Animal Care Center, 31044 N. Charlie Canyon Road (castaic@animalcare.lacounty.gov);
— Downey Animal Care Center, 11258 S. Garfield Ave. (downeyctaip@animalcare.lacounty.gov);
— Lancaster Animal Care Center, 5210 W. Ave. I (acclancaster@animalcare.lacounty.gov);
— Palmdale Animal Care Center, 38550 Sierra Highway (palmdale@animalcare.lacounty.gov).