A Los Angeles family lost their home and three beloved dogs after squatters living next door allegedly started a fire while cooking methamphetamine, despite the family making hundreds of complaints to police over 18 months.

Repeated Warnings Ignored

Sonia Salinas, niece of the homeowners, told reporters the family contacted 911 repeatedly about the squatters who occupied the vacant property next door. The group of up to eight people in their 30s and 40s allegedly cooked meth inside, stole water and electricity, and engaged in other criminal activity. Police responded maybe once, according to Salinas, and told the family they could not arrest the squatters because they had no criminal record and were just looking for a place to stay.

The fire destroyed the home of pastor Juan Galicia and his wife while he was delivering a Sunday sermon. The couple lost three dogs in the blaze: Charlie, an 8-year-old poodle mix, Firulais, a 3-year-old Chihuahua mix, and Chase, a 10-year-old husky who died later at the hospital. Three other huskies survived. Galicia, who works as both a pastor and a construction worker, saw 30 years of sacrifice and work destroyed in moments.

Mayor Bass Under Fire

The family directly blamed Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass for the tragedy. Salinas recalled Bass visiting the church where her uncle serves as pastor several months ago to ask the community for help cleaning up local streets. The family helped with the cleanup but received no response when they needed assistance. Bass’s office defended her record, stating she brought homelessness down in Los Angeles after years of increases before she took office. The statement acknowledged the city has a long way to go.

Ongoing Struggles

The family expressed frustration that homeless individuals appeared to have more rights than law-abiding homeowners. Officers told them the squatters could not be arrested for doing drugs inside the property. Since the fire, homeless people have returned to scavenge through the charred debris. The family launched a GoFundMe campaign to help recover from their losses. The Los Angeles Police Department did not respond to requests for comment about their handling of the family’s complaints.