We had an inspection visit from the LA County Department of Animal Care and Control (DACC) Castiac office today. We video recorded the whole thing, and through-out, it became apparent that that the DACC officer Cpl. Manny Gonzalez did not care about the actual conditions of the rescue (clean litter boxes), or how many cats and kittens have been helping, but was solely focused on finding anything to justify shutting us down.
When pressed on the complaint submitted about "Feeding and Watering the animals" he admitted he just assumed that based on the general complaint received and added it on as 'standard practice'.
After consulting with an attorney specializing in Animal Protection/Rescue law in LA County, who stated that DACC had no accountability, and nothing they said could be trusted, and there was no way to be compliant if they don't want you to operate, and that a permit would not prevent them from harassing us with baseless unfounded complaint triggered random inspections.
We have decided that we cannot continue helping kittens or cats in the area, since this stress and disruption from a DACC that cares more about a 'big' enforcement win than helping animals in the area is not something we can continue to survive though.
Cynthia and I have spent our time, our money, our emotional well-being by helping the kittens and cats in need, but it seems like there is no value to that as far as DACC is concerned.
They repeatedly stated they don't care how many cats we have successfully rescued and adopted, they don't care about how many cats we have helped be spay/neutered, they do not care about the cats and kittens dying out on the streets every day.
I asked Officer Gonzalez directly what he would do, when in our shoes, after exhausting all other avenues (fostering, adoption, etc.) for a litter of kittens brought to him, he said "I would say no, and not help"
This is the sad state of things now. It breaks our hearts to do this, but we see no path forward to keep helping with DACC Castaic determined to shut us down.
Till today, we still thought there was a path, but it turns out LA County and DACC does not want rescues operating and helping kittens and cats.
We will be shutting down as of today. I'm so sorry to say, and apologies, we tried to find anyway to keep helping, but it was evident from today, that there is no support for a rescue to operate in LA County.