SHE KEPT TAKING THEM IN: Rescue operator charged after more than 300 animals seized
Lake Hughes, California – The operator of Rock N’ Pawz Rescue has been charged with 35 felony and misdemeanor counts after prosecutors say more than 300 animals were found suffering in filthy and unsanitary conditions.
Christine De Anda, 57, is accused of leaving animals to suffer from starvation, dehydration, untreated injuries and painful urine and fecal burns. Investigators say animals were confined inside small crates fouled with excrement, while many were underweight or emaciated.
As we first told you back on March 21st, Los Angeles County Animal Care and Control removed more than 300 animals from De Anda’s property after serving a search warrant the day before. More than 70 responders from at least six agencies were involved as the animals were rushed into care and county shelters struggled to make room.
At the time of our original report, no one had been arrested or charged, although representatives from the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office were at the property.
Nearly six months later, that has changed.
Prosecutors have now charged De Anda with 12 felony counts of animal cruelty, three misdemeanor counts of animal cruelty, two felony counts of grand theft of labor and 18 additional misdemeanor violations.
Those remaining counts include alleged failures to provide care, food and water, injurious and unsanitary conditions, operating a kennel without a license and multiple code-enforcement violations. The District Attorney’s release did not explain the factual allegations behind the two grand-theft-of-labor counts.
The animals were primarily dogs, but investigators also found cats, a pig, a rabbit, a goose and two goats. One cat was found deceased and, according to the investigation, had suffered from starvation and dehydration. Animal Care and Control says some of the rescued animals could not be saved because of the extent of their illnesses and injuries.
County officials say De Anda had received citations and warnings over several years about conditions at the property and the number of animals she was keeping. Prosecutors allege that she continued operating the rescue and taking in more animals despite those warnings.
De Anda has publicly challenged the county’s actions. In an Instagram statement posted before the criminal charges were announced, Rock N’ Pawz questioned the fairness of the administrative process. De Anda claimed she did not receive legally required notice of a hearing, was prevented from presenting evidence she wanted considered and had not been shown a law prohibiting her from seeing or regaining custody of the animals. She called for transparency, due process and the animals’ return.
Then, at a recent Los Angeles animal-welfare town hall organized by Rebecca Corry and the Stand Up for Pits Foundation, De Anda introduced herself and began speaking about her own case.
The town hall had been organized to address the animal-welfare crisis on Skid Row and across Los Angeles and to give the community an opportunity to hear where political candidates stood on the deplorable conditions facing animals throughout the city.
As the exchange became heated, Corry stopped De Anda and said, “You’re not going to take over this town hall. You’re going to listen.”
De Anda claimed that one animal had arrived at Rock N’ Pawz with a broken leg and accused authorities of amputating the animal’s leg as a “publicity stunt.” Corry pushed back, telling De Anda to put the animals’ welfare first and release them so they would not remain confined inside the shelter system.
Both the Instagram statement and the town-hall confrontation happened before prosecutors announced the criminal charges.
The case was filed for a warrant, and De Anda’s arraignment will be scheduled at the Antelope Valley Courthouse. Prosecutors have requested that bail be set at $914,500. If convicted as charged, she could face as much as 24½ years in state prison.
The surviving animals remain under court jurisdiction and are not available for adoption until the court releases them.
These charges are allegations, not a conviction. Prosecutors must now prove them in court.
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Sources: Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office; Los Angeles County Department of Animal Care and Control; ABC7 Los Angeles; Rock N’ Pawz Rescue Instagram; Stand Up for Pits Foundation town-hall video
Fair use. Innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.