In late March 2026, Greater Good Charities received an urgent call for support from our partners at the Los Angeles County Department of Animal Care and Control (DACC). A large animal rescue operation was underway, as 250 dogs, 66 cats, two goats, one pig, and one parrot were retrieved from a Lake Hughes property whose owner was found to be in violation of animal welfare laws.
LA County shelters braced to take in this influx of animals, but their space was limited. We mobilized rapidly and within days of the initial call, transported shelter dogs and cats out of Los Angeles to the Pacific Northwest. This created critically-needed space for the incoming rescued animals, also creating new opportunities for adoption for the transported pets.
But we didn’t stop there. With the 300+ animals now safely removed from the property and in better hands, we’re providing ongoing support for their rehabilitation through donations of food, pharmaceuticals, litter and more.
The road to recovery will be long for many of these animals. When removed from the property, around a dozen needed emergency medical care and were taken to a veterinarian immediately. Many others, while not in critical condition, still required medical treatment for various injuries, illnesses, and malnutrition.
“What these animals endured is heartbreaking and the County of Los Angeles will not tolerate neglect of this magnitude,” said DACC Supervisor Kathryn Barger.
DACC shelter staff immediately set to work, partnering with local groomers like West Coast Grooming Academy and Puppy Fades to get the animals clean, comfortable, and on the path to healing. But even more lasting than the physical damage of their former situation will be the mental, as the pets will need behavioral checks, socialization, and TLC to begin to recover from the trauma and learn to trust humans again.
These animals’ shelter stay will likely be longer than they may need to fully regain their health, since they must be held as evidence under a "protective custody hold" during the investigations and legal proceedings against the owner.
We asked Greater Good Charities’ Chief Alignment Officer Sára Varsa for her expertise on the aftermath of an animal seizure. Read on for a full walk-through of the timeline for rescued pets in these cases, and what their future holds.
The process for animals immediately post-seizure depends on the organization responsible for that seizure, and the one that will house and care for them, in this case, LA County Animal Care & Control. Typically, that process looks like this:
It is important to note that animals in these cases are seized as property, and details about their living conditions and physical condition at the time of seizure are collected as evidence. They’re often termed "court case animals" since their condition helps demonstrate the abuse of the accused. However, the most critical evidence is the documentation of their condition at the time of seizure, not the animals themselves.
The length of time they’ll be held depends on the nature of the case, the specific state, federal, or local laws that led to the seizure and removal, and other factors. Once seized, an initial hearing is typically scheduled and, depending on the outcome, further court proceedings may be set on a scheduled calendar by the judge. Animal neglect cases involving seizure and forfeiture proceedings can take anywhere from several months to years to fully resolve.
Some animals from the case may be legally surrendered by the owner, releasing any legal requirement to hold them. Otherwise, they may be held through the duration of the case.
If applicable law allows for a cost of care or bond provision, or court-ordered payment, the owner may be required to pay towards the housing, food, and medical care of seized animals during or after the legal proceedings, and in some cases afterward. Even so, these costs realistically still fall to the organizations holding the animals, which may be able to recoup some expenses from the owner but often rely on other support, like Greater Good Charities’ in-kind donations.
This is why your support for our work in this Los Angeles case is so important. Together, we’re helping cover these costs and alleviate need by providing pet food and supplies to LA County shelters that have taken in the animals rescued in this recent seizure. As long as the cases are ongoing, we will continue to support our partners and these animals’ recovery.
What does the future hold for animals seized from situations of cruelty? Fortunately, they can ultimately go on to live long happy lives. Whether legally surrendered or awarded to a shelter by the court, they are often later made available for adoption if medically and behaviorally eligible.
What better reason for hope? This proves that good can still come from the darkest situations. After enduring cruelty and neglect, these pets have the potential to heal and be loved.
Your generosity is making this possibility more real for them every day. Thank you for amplifying the good for rescued Los Angeles animals.