On January 21, 2008, Pet Orphans of Southern California received a desperate cry for help via e-mail from a volunteer who was helping an animal organization in Lancaster rescue animals from a horrible hoarding situation. It involved approximately 400 animals, almost 200 of them dogs in desperate need of food and shelter. Pet Orphans' kennel manager, Alice Williams, responded and offered our help.

On Thursday evening, January 24, 2008, the Pet Orphans kennel staff headed to Lancaster to lend a hand. Upon arrival, our staff found a horrific scene: Dogs with no shelter, in the snow-cold night. Dogs were standing and laying in their own feces and urine mixed with mud, freezing and hungry. Our staff felt compelled to immediately remove as many dogs as possible from this heartbreaking situation. Working under almost impossible conditions, they managed to crate, then load 15 of the terrified dogs into the Pet Orphans van to transport them to safety.

Arriving back in Van Nuys, knowing that we did not have room for these victims in our own kennel, Alice made arrangements with a local vet/boarding facility to board the dogs. Alice spent a sleepless night worrying about the other dogs that had been left behind in those horrible conditions. After conferring with Pet Orphans president Diane Scripps, all agreed that this situation must end NOW, and launched an emergency rescue mission to retrieve the remaining 63 dogs.

While the office coordinator searched via phone for a boarding facility for these dogs and arranged for extra staff for our own kennel, the entire Pet Orphans kennel staff plus volunteers loaded up the 2 vans with carriers and needed supplies and headed for Lancaster. Because the remaining 63 dogs were cold, starving, terrified and unapproachable, it took from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. to safely load them in the vans for transport.

Back in Van Nuys, 15 dogs were temporarily taken to a nearby clinic before transfer to our shelter, and 48 dogs were boarded by arrangement at anther veterinary facility. All of the 78 rescued dogs were now safely out of the deplorable conditions in Lancaster, and being cared for. The staff was exhausted, and the parking lot filled with dirty carriers that had to be scrubbed and cleaned, and mountains of dirty blankets and towels to be laundered.

The rescue job was far, far from over. All of the dogs needed to be examined and evaluated, both medically and for behavior issues that could stand in the way of adoption. Because of the horrible treatment they had endured, most of the dogs were difficult to handle. As the dogs settled in at the facilities, with Pet Orphans paying the bills, one by one the dogs were examined, and the process of vaccinations, microchipping, spay/neuters and any additional medical care was soon underway. Staff and a few of our most experienced volunteers also began behavior evaluations, determining which dogs were going to require extra efforts to socialize and/or train them.

Because so many of the dogs required socializing and training, Pet Orphans decided to move the majority of the dogs to Lockwood Training/Boarding Facility, a respected facility located in Frasier Park. Initially, 15 dogs were moved to Lockwood, and 15 were judged to be near-ready for adoption, so are now at Pet Orphans. Subsequently, 42 dogs were also moved to Lockwood. Of the 78 dogs rescued, six dogs had been adopted out from the veterinary facility, and six have been adopted out from Lockwood.

Currently, we have 53 dogs at Lockwood in Frasier Park and 13 dogs at our facility. After sorting out the various issues of animal ownership arising from the Lancaster rescue, ownership of these animals was formally transferred to Pet Orphans of Southern California, making all of these rescued dogs part of our Pet Orphans "family" - and deserving of the best "second chance" we can give them to find a loving, forever home.

When challenged to respond to animals in crisis, Pet Orphans is known for taking immediate action no matter what the cost. Sometimes, as with the Lancaster situation, the cost is enormous, but - somehow -- it must be met. Just as Alice was awake all night worrying about dozens of dogs shivering in freezing mud and filth, it's impossible for us not to answer such a call for help. We can only hope that others who love and cherish animals as we do will help us cover the cost of this emergency rescue, which we estimate will exceed $100,000 before these dogs are in the responsible, loving homes that they deserve.

When the Lancaster crisis began, Pet Orphans agreed to cover the costs of boarding for the rescued animals, but not for medical care, microchipping, spay/neuter, or the unforeseen expense of extensive training to make the dogs adoptable. Pet Orphans has incurred substantial costs for necessary vaccinations and microchipping of all the dogs, and hopes that other individuals, organizations or foundations can help cover those costs.

In summary, Pet Orphans desperately needs help to pay the boarding and training costs.
Thank you in advance for whatever help you can provide.

Please click here to donate and thank you for your involvement.

Sincerely,
Diane Scripps, President
Pet Orphans of Southern California

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