Defiant animal hoarder breaks silence after a whole lot of canine and cats seized from house in one among largest rescues ever



Dozens of canine and cats seized from a Lake Hughes house in probably one of many largest animal rescue operations in US historical past turned up a Los Angeles space animal care middle — however the cuddly pets might stay in limbo as their alleged hoarder fights for his or her return.

Furry pals of all sizes and breeds have been visited by The Put up on Saturday inside kennels on the Downey Animal Care Heart, the place they anxiously awaited adoption.

Greater than 300 canine and cats have been recovered from the house of Rock ‘N Pawz Animal Rescue Christine De Anda, who’s accused of hoarding the animals in overcrowded and unsanitary situations. A number of required medical care when rescuers arrived on scene, officers stated.

The Downey Animal Care middle, the place among the canine and cats recovered throughout a raid in Lake Hughes are at present positioned in Downey, California on March 21, 2026. Jonathan Alcorn For CA Put up
Below California legislation, animals taken in cruelty instances are categorised as proof, which means they can’t be adopted, transferred or completely positioned till a decide indicators off. Jonathan Alcorn For CA Put up
The animals are solely getting older because the court docket course of drags on, she stated. And there’s many animals ready — Mayeda stated the official rely of the animals, which they initially stated could possibly be as excessive as 700, is 250 canine and 66 cats. Jonathan Alcorn For CA Put up

De Anda claimed the animals have been “not emaciated or in dangerous form” in an Instagram publish she shared Saturday.

“The animals have been cleaned each day, the animals have been rotated out into yards each single day, each single canine is comfortable,” she instructed KTLA, including that she’ll problem the seizure in court docket. “They have been wholesome. They have been cared for.”


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Marcia Mayeda, director of LA County Division of Animal Care and Management, disputed that declare to the The Put up, saying the animals have been stored in overcrowded situations a few of them have been underfed.

And now the canine and cats could possibly be caught in cages for “months” unable to be taken in by new house owners because the authorized course of runs its course, Mayeda added.

Below California legislation, animals taken in cruelty instances are categorised as proof, which means they can’t be adopted, transferred or completely positioned till a decide indicators off.

Dozens of canine and cats from the operation, one of many Division of Animal Care and Management’s largest ever missions, are housed in kennels on the Downey Animal care middle. Jonathan Alcorn For CA Put up
She additionally stated conserving the animals in kennels takes up house for others who could possibly be adopted, and is drain on the division’s sources. Jonathan Alcorn For CA Put up
Marcia Mayeda, Director of Animal Care and Management for Los Angeles County poses on the Downey Animal Care middle. Jonathan Alcorn For CA Put up

Mayeda stated the official rely of the animals is 250 canine and 66 cats. They’re being unfold out to completely different animal care facilities throughout the county, together with websites in Lancaster and Carson. Different animals rescued from the property included two goats, a pig, a goose and a parrot, Mayeda stated.

She gushed in regards to the rescued pets, saying most have been pleasant and none have been aggressive. Some which have acted scared and reclusive, although Mayeda shouldn’t be shocked given their care.

Most of animals on the Downey middle considered by The Put up had house for themselves, excluding some smaller canine, who had kennel-mates. Many of the animals smelled, which Mayeda stated was attributable to their lack of bathing and unsanitary situations. Bathing efforts have been underway.

She famous that conserving the animals in kennels takes up house for others who could possibly be adopted, and is drain on the division’s sources. Mayeda urged the general public to donate to the division’s basis to assist them.

Whereas De Anda has not been charged with any crime, Mayeda stated authorities they’re nonetheless gathering proof for a case they are going to undergo the LA District Legal professional’s Workplace. She anticipates an arrest warrant will then be issued.

The DACC director says the animals have been stored in overcrowded situations. Jonathan Alcorn For CA Put up
She famous, with out specifying particular numbers or species of animal, that there have been lifeless animals on the rescue web site. Jonathan Alcorn For CA Put up
Christine De Anda of Rock N’ Pawz Animal Rescue. Christine De Anda / Fb
Animal Management brokers and members of the SPCA are seen exterior a house in Lake Hughes, CA. London Leisure

DACC is looking on animal lovers to undertake, foster, assist native shelters, and “respected” rescues.

Mayeda says the rescued animals would make “very good pets.”





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