County Removes 325 Dogs From Unlicensed Kennel

More than 300 puppies and dogs, some suffering from malnutrition or distemper, were removed Tuesday from a Hawaiian Gardens kennel that did not have a permit to operate, authorities said.

The animals were taken from the Carson Pet Shop, also known as Mingodell Kennels. Authorities are considering whether to file charges against the owner, whose identity was not released, said Dawn Cotterell, spokeswoman for the Los Angeles branch of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.

Los Angeles County Animal Care & Control served a search warrant at the facility. About 325 puppies and dogs, including pugs, miniature pinschers and Lhasa Apsos, were taken to animal shelters, authorities said.

The kennel, which was shut down after the raid, did not have a permit, Cotterell said.

Attempts to contact kennel workers were unsuccessful; the phone had been disconnected.

Cotterell said an investigation was launched after authorities received tips from people who bought dogs at the kennel. “Consumers were complaining that they were purchasing dogs that died. Through our investigation, we determined that they were not being taken care of.”