Hundreds Of Dogs, Cats Rescued In LA County's Largest-Ever Animal Welfare Case

Update, 4 p.m.: County animal authorities now say about 250 dogs and 66 cats were present on the property, revising their initial estimate of 700 total animals.

"While lower than initially anticipated, this is still a large-scale rescue effort requiring significant, ongoing care," The Los Angeles County Department of Animal Care and Control said in a statement. "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."

Earlier Friday: Around 700 dogs and cats were rescued from a property in rural northern Los Angeles County Friday morning in what animal control officials say may be the largest-ever case of its kind in the U.S.

The Los Angeles County Department of Animal Care and Control at around 7 a.m. served a search warrant at the property, located in the Lake Hughes area in the Antelope Valley foothills.

The animals — 400 dogs and 300 cats — were in the custody of Christine De Anda of Rock N Pawz animal rescue, county officials said. The organization's website describes itself as a nonprofit animal rescue organization and features images of animals advertised as being available for adoption.

The warrant was served with the assistance of the District Attorney's Office following an investigation into allegations of animal cruelty at the facility, including neglect and overcrowding, the Los Angeles Times reported.

More than 70 staffers from the animal control department were on the scene Friday morning along with additional people from other animal welfare organizations, officials said.

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The animals were in the process of being medically assessed Friday. Those requiring emergency care were transported to veterinarian hospitals. Others were expected to be transported to LA County shelters for further evaluation and care.

Officials said the enormous number of rescued animals "will put a strain" on the department's resources and housing capacity. Authorities will work with other animal welfare groups to transfer currently adoptable animals so there's enough room to admit the rescued animals.

County shelters are not normally open to the public on Sundays, but will be open from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. this Sunday to help with placement efforts.

"We are urgently requesting the public's help to support the rescue and rehabilitation of these dogs and cats," county animal care Director Marcia Mayeda said. "Please come to one of our animal care centers to adopt and animal in need or make a donation to the Los Angeles County Animal Care Foundation."

"Also present for other violations are representatives from the Los Angeles County departments of public works, public health and regional planning," officials said.

Authorities said the hundreds of dogs and cats marked the largest number ever seized by LA County officials and "may be the largest case ever" in the entire country.

For information about the county Department of Animal Control, including a list of shelters, visit the department's website.