An operation of large scale rescued 400 dogs and 300 neglected cats in Lake Hughes, California. Those in serious condition were immediately transferred to veterinary clinics.
Indecent living conditions for many animals. Around 400 dogs and 300 cats were saved on Friday, March 20 in California during a large-scale operation carried out by local authorities and several non-governmental organizations in an overcrowded and unsanitary shelter, announced the county’s animal control service.
“This is the largest number of dogs and cats that the animal control service has ever recovered, and it may be the most important case in the United States,” the service stated on its social media.
More than 70 service agents participated in the operation, which started Friday at dawn in Lake Hughes, about 110 kilometers north of Los Angeles. Marcia Mayeda, director of the service, specified that the property belonged to a non-profit organization caring for animals.
Some animals in serious condition taken care of
“She accepted more animals than she could properly accommodate,” Mrs. Mayeda emphasized during a press conference on site. “And unfortunately, this led to a situation of serious neglect and danger for the animals, who had to be removed for their own safety.”
Most of the pets were in cages, the spokesperson explained. They were fed irregularly and deprived of water, while the region is experiencing a record heat wave for the season, with temperatures exceeding 30°C.
Veterinary teams examined the dogs and cats on site. Those in serious condition were immediately transferred to veterinary clinics, while the others were taken to shelters to be fed and cared for.
Animal welfare organizations, such as the Pasadena Humane Society, which participated in rescuing animals during the fires that devastated Los Angeles last year, were on site to collaborate in this large-scale operation.
Appeal for donations launched by authorities
Aerial images showed several white vans and staff wearing protective suits around a huge hangar, surrounded by large kennels.
Authorities have called on citizens to make donations, given the logistical challenges that such a rescue represents. They also invite people to participate in adoption efforts to free up space in the overcrowded animal shelters in the county.
