Exclusive Update on Animals Relocated from California Hangar Fire and Rescued from Florida Breeding Operation

In the last few months and throughout the end of 2023, we have been hard at work rescuing hundreds of dogs from across the country thanks to support from generous Founders like you. That’s why we wanted to take a moment to give you an exclusive update on some of the animals we’ve recently assisted.

Orange County, California

Just before Thanksgiving last year, in response to the ongoing local state of emergency resulting from the North Hangar Fire in Tustin, California, we partnered with Orange County Animal Care (OCAC) to fly more than 100 shelter dogs to our Cruelty Recovery Center (CRC) in Columbus, Ohio. This facility not only provides space for animals rescued from cruelty cases, but also provides care and shelter for those relocated from natural disasters and emergency situations, like the fire in Southern California.

Ongoing flare-ups, high winds and announced deconstruction of the remaining structure, which was close in proximity to the shelter, prevented staff from safely bringing the dogs in their care outside for walks, exercise and playtime. Since November, our teams have been caring for these dogs, providing them with daily care including walks, playtime and enrichment and caring for any medical or behavioral needs.

While our behavior and medical teams work directly with the dogs, our Placement and Foster team at the CRC and our Centralized Placement Team have been working hard to find them homes. To date, 20 dogs have been adopted, 47 have been sent to placement partners, six were sent to our Adoption Center in New York City and one was sent to our Behavioral Rehabilitation Center in Asheville, North Carolia, for further treatment.  

Many dogs from this transport are still in our care and looking for loving homes to call their own. If you live in the Columbus, Ohio area, or know someone who does, consider adopting one of these deserving pups or sharing their profiles with your friends and family. Dogs like Relay and Mari – and so many more of their friends – are hoping that you’ll be the one they’ve been waiting for.

Meet Relay and Mari!

Union County, Florida

In mid-March, at the request of the Union County Sheriff’s Office, we assisted with the rescue of 120 dogs and puppies – primarily Great Danes – from a property in Union County, Florida. The dogs, which also included French and English Bulldogs and Chinese Cresteds, were seized from the property of a breeder after they were observed living in extremely unsanitary conditions. Many of the dogs were also found to be underweight and had untreated medical conditions.

Our teams helped assist with the operational planning, evidence collection, crime scene processing and investigative and legal assistance. We relocated the dogs to an emergency shelter where they received forensic exams to support the criminal investigation and continue to receive much-needed medical care and behavioral treatment and enrichment.

While many of these dogs still have long roads to recovery before finding loving homes, one dog has already been adopted and a handful have been placed with a local shelter in hopes of getting their second chances as beloved pets.