Shelters seek adopters after LA County removes more than 300 animals

Animal rescue groups and shelters across Los Angeles County are working together to respond to a large-scale animal rescue operation in Lake Hughes.

The Los Angeles County Department of Animal Care and Control removed more than 300 animals from a property in the area in what officials describe as one of the department’s largest rescue operations.

Authorities say the animals appeared to be neglected. The rescue included 232 dogs, 66 cats, one rabbit, a goose, a parrot, two goats, and one pig.

The Best Friends Los Angeles Adoption Center is among the many organizations trying to clear space in shelters to accommodate the rescued animals. The group is asking the public to help by fostering or adopting pets.

“These kinds of things happen periodically, and we just jump into action when we hear of an emergency like that,” said Elizabeth Oreck of Best Friends Los Angeles.

The woman whose property had 300 cats and dogs said she was taking care of them, but officials said the home was unsanitary. Alex Rozier reports for the NBC4 News at 6 p.m. on Friday, March 20, 2026.

Oreck, the senior manager of community programs with Best Friends Los Angeles, is one of many partners assisting LA County Animal Control as shelters prepare for the influx of animals.

On Friday, officials served a search warrant at the Lake Hughes property for a violation of animal welfare laws. LA County Animal Control said the property owner operates a nonprofit animal rescue organization but took in more animals than they could properly care for. Authorities say many of the animals were kept in crates, some without adequate water.

NBC4 spoke with a woman who lives on the property, who claims she takes care of the animals and says they are healthy. The animals removed from the property were taken to veterinary hospitals and animal care centers for evaluation and care.

“They don’t have enough space to accommodate all those animals so we’re trying to help them make space,” Oreck said.

Best Friends Los Angeles is encouraging people to foster or adopt cats and dogs to help clear kennels and free up space for the rescued animals.

Across town, another adoption event was held at Tailwaggers in Hollywood featuring dogs and cats from LA Animal Services.

“Not everyone loves to visit the shelter, so we bring them out into the community so that they can see them in different environments for the people who might not go into the shelters,” said Ethel Pollack, a volunteer with LA Animal Services.

Rescue groups say the effort reflects a community-wide response to help the animals in need.

“We work together all of the shelter partners and rescue partners in the community ban together and do what they can and what we hope is the public will do what they can and step up and foster or adopt any of these amazing animals like Mildred,” Oreck said.

Best Friends Los Angeles will be open Sunday, March 22, from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.

LA County Animal Care Centers will also open Sunday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. — hours they do not typically operate — as officials work to make space for the large-scale rescue.