Mid-City Man’s 74 Dogs and Cats Are Seized

Los Angeles animal control officers seized 74 cats and dogs Wednesday at several Mid-City properties owned by a man who had been trying to breed exotic felines and canines.

Authorities said Arturo Vega, 61, failed to obtain proper city permits, including licenses to breed animals and operate a kennel. Vega also kept the animals in unsanitary conditions, said Jackie David, a spokeswoman for the Los Angeles Department of Animal Services.

A dozen animal control inspectors and several veterinarians searched five locations in the 2800 block of West Pico Boulevard, where they found 47 cats and 27 dogs, including Rottweilers and German shepherds, David said.

About three dozen of the cats were found in what officers said was Vega’s roach-infested apartment.

“We’ve been working with this individual for a year to clean up his act,” David said. “He loves his animals, but he’s in way over his head.”

Under city law, an individual can keep no more than three dogs and three cats, David said.

Vega said the city’s action was unfair. He said he has tried to work with animal control officers and, at their instruction, installed air filters and purchased larger litter boxes. He sought a kennel license but was rejected because officials considered the area inappropriate for keeping large numbers of animals, David said.

Vega, who described animal breeding as a hobby, said he had been developing cats with long white hair and blue eyes. He has also tried to breed dogs with red and orange bodies and black tails, he said.

“My dogs are not mistreated; my cats are not mistreated,” Vega said, adding that 42 of his animals saw a veterinarian last weekend.

He said he adopted some of the animals from shelters and bred the rest.

It took officials three hours to remove the 74 dogs and cats Wednesday morning. A strong odor permeated the neighborhood as animal control officers loaded the dogs and cats into at least 10 vehicles that lined the street.

Authorities said Vega’s apartment was littered with animal feces and urine.

Officials will now prepare a report for the city attorney listing alleged city code violations by Vega. The city attorney will then decide whether to file charges.

The animals were taken to the South Los Angeles Shelter, where they were to be examined. Once the case is resolved, the animals will be put up for adoption if they are healthy and nonaggressive.