LA County Inspects Property to Ensure Animal
Welfare, Check Code Violations

LOS ANGELES – On Friday, July 31, the Los Angeles County Departments of Regional Planning, Public Works (Building and Safety), Public Health, and Animal Care and Control (DACC) executed an inspection warrant at a 2.5-acre property occupied by the Linda Blair Worldheart (LBWH) Foundation in Acton, California. The purpose of the inspection was to follow up on complaints about more than 100 dogs being kept in overcrowded, unsanitary conditions in a variety of unpermitted and/or unapproved sheds or outbuildings on site, as well as to determine whether the LBWH Foundation was in compliance with building and land use codes and regulations.

The property was previously licensed as an Animal Facility allowing a maximum of 100 dogs on the property, however that license expired in 2023 and was not renewed. The facility has been repeatedly cited for license violations, including at one point housing more than 180 dogs, violating the set limit of dogs allowed under the animal facility license at the time. A number of structures have been developed in violation of the County Zoning Code, including building within required setback areas. An unpermitted industrial-size cargo container on site also raised additional concerns about animal safety.

Regional Planning made nine separate attempts to schedule an inspection of the property, and DACC made an additional 15 attempts over a period of three years to contact the property owner to conduct its own inspection. All attempts by both departments went unanswered or were refused, leaving the County no alternative but to seek a judicial warrant to proceed.

The inspection revealed 251 dogs on the property. It was not necessary to remove any dogs, but Orders to Comply to seek veterinary treatment were issued for three dogs. Orders to Comply were also issued by DACC to correct deficits in housing facilities and sanitation. The owner was issued a citation for operating an animal facility without a license and a citation for exceeding the number of animals allowed in a residence. Zoning violations were also confirmed by the Department of Regional Planning during the inspection.

This remains an active investigation, and no further comment about any other findings of the inspection will be provided at this time.

For questions concerning DACC:  pio@animalcare.lacounty.gov

For facts related to Regional Planning:  pio@ceo.lacounty.gov

About the Los Angeles County Department of Animal Care and Control (DACC)

DACC is one of the largest animal care and control agencies in the nation, operating seven animal care centers and providing services to more than three million residents and their pets. DACC operates under the nationally recognized Socially Conscious Sheltering model to ensure the best possible outcomes for animals and the community. As a community resource center for pets and owners, DACC protects people and animals from harm, provides care for lost and unwanted animals, reunites lost pets with their families, and strives every day to move closer to its goal of finding a loving home for every adoptable pet that comes through its doors. To learn more about DACC, the resources DACC provides, and view its animals, visit https://animalcare.lacounty.gov  or follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and X (formerly Twitter).  To support DACC’s efforts, please donate to the Los Angeles County Animal Care Foundation at https://lacountyanimals.org/.  To learn more about Socially Conscious Sheltering, visit https://scsheltering.org/.