Freeway encampment crackdown takes disturbing turn as dozens arrested, dogs and chickens found

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A sprawling homeless encampment beneath a Los Angeles freeway became the target of a major crackdown this week, with more than 25 people arrested and dogs, cats and chickens rescued after furious animal advocates exposed the troubled area. 

The operation along San Fernando Road near the Sun Valley-Arleta border followed a weeklong campaign by longtime animal advocate Joey Tuccio, who accused City Hall of allowing illegal breeding and animal abuse to flourish.

“This woman was pulling puppies out of a wooden box, saying that she’s selling them for $45, $100,” Tuccio told the California Post, sharing video he recorded at the location. “This is the dog’s fourth litter. The last litter all died.”

Councilwoman Imelda Padilla, who represents the area, confirmed the sweeping enforcement operation Thursday, saying LAPD had arrested more than 25 people.

“We also have Animal Services here that is slowly but surely rescuing dogs, plenty of cats, as well as what we’ve discovered now, some chickens and some roosters,” Padilla announced in an Instagram video.

“Today is the beginning of the end of this location being seen as a place for homeless individuals who are also engaging in illegal activity.”

The disturbing conditions surfaced after Tuccio and another volunteer investigated reports of dogs living in drainage pipes and sewers near homeless encampments.

What they discovered beneath the freeway stunned them.

“While we’re there, they were telling us how somebody overdosed the day before and died. An RV was set on fire on purpose. I mean, it was just like the apocalypse,” Tuccio recalled.

He said an entire litter had died from parvovirus, a highly contagious and potentially fatal disease, while another puppy was recently struck and killed by a train.

Tuccio said he repeatedly pressured Padilla’s office to intervene before city crews, police and Animal Services descended on the encampment.

“They removed all the cats, and they removed multiple dogs,” he said. “One already got adopted by a staff member from Padilla’s office.”

But while crediting the councilwoman for taking action, he also questioned why authorities hadn’t intervened sooner.

“Padilla’s office took way too long, I think. They should have acted immediately,” he said.

Tuccio also blasted the initial Animal Services response, telling The Post an officer left after the suspected breeder denied selling puppies and refused to have the dogs spayed or neutered.

“That can’t be the extent of the interrogation. Like, or the investigation,” he said.

“If I could go under a bridge and in five seconds find a puppy mill, then the police could too.”

Padilla acknowledged officials had long known about problems at the location and pledged a more aggressive, coordinated response.

“This is not a location that we have not known about, but this is the beginning of us being more aggressive at asking the county to also do their part,” she said.

She said she plans to introduce a motion requesting infrastructure improvements from the city’s Bureau of Engineering and Los Angeles County Department of Public Works to prevent the encampment from returning.

“What we need is some real aggressive interjurisdictional hands, boots on the ground consistently, consistently, and consistently,” Padilla said.

The allegations come despite existing Los Angeles restrictions on dog breeding and public animal sales, raising fresh questions about enforcement.

Tuccio said the alleged abuse extends far beyond one encampment.

“In every district there’s a problem, but councilmembers try to keep it under the rug,” he said.

He praised Councilwoman Traci Park for joining advocates on the Venice Boardwalk, where an attempted illegal puppy sale was exposed and a man was arrested on an outstanding warrant.

Park subsequently introduced a motion seeking tougher restrictions on animal sales along Ocean Front Walk.

Now Tuccio is demanding other councilmembers follow her lead.

“The city has done such a tremendous job trying to sweep this under the rug,” he charged. “This is a wake-up call for every council member that we’re coming for all of you. We’re not gonna stop. Every council member’s on notice.”

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