Animal welfare advocates in Los Angeles County are raising urgent concerns about conditions at a sprawling homeless encampment tucked beneath an overpass in Arleta, where activists allege illegal puppy sales are taking place amid accumulating trash and makeshift living structures.
Visible from the roadway above, the subterranean encampment features makeshift shelters outfitted with domestic amenities including furniture, washing machines, televisions, and generators powered to support residents. At least a dozen people reside in the cramped space alongside various dogs, cats, and kittens. When reporters visited the site, several individuals scattered, with at least one person driving away.
Victoriah Bech-Parker, co-founder of the animal advocacy organization Starts With One Today, described the environment as resembling living conditions in the developing world. Bech-Parker and fellow advocates visited the site this week following reports of unauthorized puppy sales. According to one advocate, a resident claimed to be selling puppies for prices ranging from $45 to $100 each. Activists observed multiple animals at the location, noting that one dog appeared to have recently given birth while another was pregnant.
A resident identifying herself as J, who stated she has lived at the encampment for nearly two years, denied that the site functions as a puppy mill. She maintained that the animals simply needed good homes and confirmed that one dog had delivered a litter approximately a week prior, with another pregnancy underway. J guided visitors through the congested area, pointing out shared generators that supply electricity for televisions and stereos across the makeshift community.
Despite residents’ assertions, animal advocates voiced grave concerns regarding the health and safety of the animals. Jonathan Parker, co-founder of Starts With One Today, stated that the environment is inhumane and reported hearing that several dogs had contracted parvovirus, a highly contagious and frequently fatal illness in puppies, resulting in animal deaths. These reported illnesses and fatalities have not been independently verified.
Bech-Parker further alleged that individuals at the site are actively breeding and selling dogs in an operation situated directly opposite a tiny homes shelter for unhoused individuals. She asserted that many residents struggle with substance abuse while simultaneously running a breeding operation. These allegations of an active puppy mill have not been independently verified.
Activists are pressing local government officials to intervene and address the conditions at the site. Joey Tuccio, an advocate with Starts With One Today, compared the location unfavorably to other vulnerable areas in Los Angeles. Tuccio noted that homelessness impacts communities across the region, including Arleta, Pacoima, Van Nuys, Venice, and Skid Row, but described the Arleta overpass site as among the worst he has encountered. He emphasized safety concerns for both humans and animals due to the secluded, underground nature of the encampment.
Local authorities have been pressed for a response regarding the situation. An inquiry was submitted to the office of Los Angeles City Councilmember Imelda Padilla concerning the encampment conditions and the allegations of illegal animal sales, but no response had been received as of publication.
