Operation Dusty Tails

Animal Rescue: 35 hoarded dogs out of time in Southern California

The ARC field team drove 2,000 miles in two days this holiday weekend for an animal rescue operation of 35 hoarded dogs. Like many hoarding situations, this one came to light when the property resident was a medical emergency left the property owner hospitalized. Afterward, neglected animals were trapped in a desperate food and housing crisis.

After the property resident was hospitalized, these poor dogs went three days without any care at all. As soon as the situation came to light, local animal advocates stepped in to help. For weeks they tried desperately to place what was then 40+ dogs and 20+ cats. Meanwhile, they cared for the animals, placed the ones they could, and sent out desperate pleas for help.

Although they placed the cats and a handful of dogs, but were left with 35 dogs. Furthermore, animal control was visiting the property to hurry them up, which would likely be a death sentence for these dogs in overcrowded Southern California. But ARC, whose mission is to assist in situations where many neglected animals need help at once, was able to say yes when local organizations reached out for assistance. Without delay, the ARC field team set out on a 2,000 mile deployment.

When the ARC rescue team, vet techs, and team members from ARC partner Priceless Pet Rescue arrived at the site, they discovered the remaining 35 dogs living in a cluttered and dirty yard. Additionally, many of the dogs, mostly small, were seniors, and they exhibited immediate signs of chronic neglect.

But fortunately, these dogs were surrendered into ARC’s care. After rescue, Priceless Pet Rescue transported 13 of the dogs back to their facility and into their adoption center. Meanwhile, each of the 22 remaining dogs will return with ARC to our Rescue Center, where they will receive medical, physical, and social care before being matched with vetted placement partners in high-adoption regions to find their loving homes.