Best Friends to Manage Relocation of Rescued California Dogs

Newswire Services
As many as 50 dogs released by a southern California dog breeder will be relocated to foster homes and various rescue groups under the leadership of Best Friends Animal Society, a Utah-based national animal rescue organization.

Best Friends is collaborating with Last Chance for Animals, the Los Angeles-based group whose undercover investigative work exposed overcrowded conditions for more than 400 dogs at World Kennel in Littlerock, Calif. World Kennel must reduce the number of dogs in its possession to 100 by Tuesday, May 5, in order to comply with local ordinances.

Best Friends was making plans Friday afternoon to begin placing the dogs with foster care and rescue groups in the Los Angeles area, as well as other Best Friends network rescue organizations.

"Best Friends is absolutely the perfect organization to help us get these dogs to safety in the shortest period of time," said Chris DeRose, well-known actor and founder of Last Chance for Animals. "Best Friends will utilize its vast network to contact foster care and rescue groups who can take the dogs into their immediate care."

Investigative reporter David Goldstein of KCBS, Channel 2 in Los Angeles exposed the crowded conditions and how some dog breeders that were thought of as reputable breeders are actually fronts for puppy mills. Goldstein´s report came as the result of LCA´s investigative work that uncovered the crowded conditions.

"We´re eager to lend our expertise in finding new homes for these dogs as soon as possible," said Jen Krause, puppy mill campaign specialist for Best Friends. "We have worked with LCA in the past and welcome another chance to collaborate on this serious rescue situation."

"Our main concern is to avoid any type of interval where the dogs are in limbo," said Liz Finch, animal help manager at Best Friends. "We´re going to pull out all the stops to get these dogs into safe environments as quickly as possible. Hopefully, we can get them all settled by the weekend."

For inquiries about adoption and/or to donate toward the dogs´ care and medical bills, visit www.LCAnimal.org, call 310-271-6096 ext. 31 or email campaigns@lcanimal.org.