Over 300 Dogs and Cats Rescued from California Property

Los Angeles County Department of Animal Care and Control seizes animals from Lake Hughes rescue operation.

Mar. 21, 2026 at 8:21pm

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In a large-scale animal rescue operation, the Los Angeles County Department of Animal Care and Control seized over 300 dogs and cats from a property in Lake Hughes, California on Friday, March 20, 2026. The rescue was launched following reports of animal welfare law violations at the property, which was operated by a rescue organization called Rock 'N Pawz Rescue.

Why it matters

This rescue operation highlights the ongoing challenges of animal welfare and the need for proper oversight and regulation of rescue organizations to ensure the humane treatment of animals in their care. It also raises questions about the capacity of local animal control agencies to handle large-scale rescues and find suitable placements for the seized animals.

The details

The rescue operation involved over 70 people and was initially estimated to involve over 700 animals, though the final count was revised down to 250 dogs and 66 cats. The animals were in the care of Christine De Anda, who runs the Rock 'N Pawz Rescue organization. De Anda, who goes by D'Anda, has disputed the county's account, claiming the animals were well cared for and that some were injured during the rescue. She plans to fight the seizure of the animals in court.

  • The rescue operation took place on Friday, March 20, 2026.
  • The Los Angeles County Department of Animal Care and Control served a search warrant at the property on 266th Street West in Lake Hughes.

The players

Los Angeles County Department of Animal Care and Control

The local animal control agency that conducted the rescue operation and seized the animals from the property in Lake Hughes.

Christine De Anda (D'Anda)

The executive director of Rock 'N Pawz Rescue, the organization that was caring for the animals on the property in Lake Hughes.

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What they’re saying

“We are urgently requesting the public's help to support the rescue and rehabilitation of these dogs and cats. Please come to one of our animal care centers to adopt an animal in need or make a donation to the Los Angeles County Animal Care Foundation at www.lacountyanimals.org.”

— Marcia Mayeda, LA County DACC Director

“The animals were cleaned every day, the animals were rotated out into yards every single day, every single dog is happy. They were healthy. They were cared for.”

— Christine De Anda (D'Anda)

What’s next

The seized animals are being medically evaluated and cared for by the Los Angeles County Department of Animal Care and Control. D'Anda plans to fight the seizure of the animals in court.

The takeaway

This large-scale animal rescue operation highlights the ongoing challenges of ensuring the proper care and welfare of animals in rescue organizations. It underscores the need for stronger oversight and regulation to prevent situations where animals may be neglected or mistreated, even if unintentionally, and the importance of local animal control agencies having the resources and capacity to respond effectively to reports of animal welfare violations.