PAWS Chicago takes in more than 40 dogs after massive pet seizure in LA amid animal abuse investigation
Dozens of dogs from California were taken in by PAWS Chicago Tuesday after an animal abuse investigation led to one of Los Angeles’ largest pet seizures — and overcrowded shelters as a result, according to officials with the Chicago group.
The dogs taken in by PAWS aren't among the animals seized in LA — but they are part of the resulting ripple effect.
It started Friday when more than 300 dogs and cats were taken from an LA animal rescue after complaints about inhumane living conditions.
Those seized animals are considered evidence and are not, for now, eligible for adoption. But since they're being kept in local shelters, "the pets already in these shelters have nowhere to go and are at risk of being euthanized," said Sarah McDonald, associate director of media relations for PAWS Chicago.
And that's how PAWS ended up with the 41 California dogs that arrived at the PAWS Kocourek Medical Center in Little Village Tuesday afternoon. Among them: a mother and her eight puppies. Paws for Life K9 Rescue in Los Angeles flew the dogs to Gary, Indiana, where they were picked up by Chicago-based volunteers around 3 p.m. Tuesday.
Volunteers with PAWS Chicago move pet carriers filled with puppies and dogs that were flown in from Los Angeles on Tuesday, part of an emergency transfer. Hundreds of other dogs and cats seized in Los Angeles during an animal abuse investigation led to overcrowded shelters and the need to move other animals to avoid euthanizing them.
Tyler Pasciak LaRiviere/Sun-Times
The dogs were to be fed dinner ahead of medical examinations and vaccinations on Wednesday, while the puppies were being prepared for spaying or neutering, McDonald said.
In a social media post, the Pasadena Humane Society said: “Conditions on site were deplorable, and some animals needed urgent medical care."
The County of Los Angeles Department of Animal Care and Control didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.
PAWS Chicago tends to take on large groups of animals amid crisis moments — such as Hurricanes Ian and Milton — though McDonald said such events seem to be occurring more often, with the group is taking on even more dogs than usual.
Celene Mielcarek, chief program officer with PAWS Chicago, said it comes at a critical time in pet adoption for Chicago as well. Spring means litter season for shelters, leading to even further diminished capacity.
Luckily, McDonald said Chicagoans tend to not let puppies, especially younger ones, sit around shelters too long. She urged people to take the crisis event as inspiration to foster or adopt puppies, especially for those looking to get active as the weather warms — for real, this time.
They hope upcoming adoption events, along with tags on the website touting the puppies from LA, will ensure they find homes quickly.
“Every foster we have frees up a spot in our medical center,” McDonald said. “Every adoption saves two lives because it frees up more space.”