Police arrested an individual on multiple animal cruelty charges after discovering nearly two dozen dogs inside a hot, unventilated U-Haul truck in the Inland Empire.
Murrieta Police Department officers responded to a call regarding suspected trespassing on May 1, arriving at approximately 6:30 p.m. at a property on Guava Street. Upon investigation, officers located a 15-foot U-Haul truck parked on private land. While two dogs were found in the truck's cab, officers also detected significant barking emanating from the cargo area.
Upon opening the cargo hold, authorities discovered 21 Cavalier King Charles Spaniels in distress. Several of the dogs were found to be pregnant. All animals were successfully rescued, though they had reportedly been confined within the unventilated and non-air-conditioned moving truck for several hours. Officials noted that many of the dogs exhibited signs of neglect, including matted fur and insufficient access to food and water.
The owner of the dogs reportedly returned to the U-Haul in an SUV accompanied by an additional 12 dogs during the police investigation. The individual was apprehended at the scene and subsequently charged with 21 felony counts of animal cruelty. Animal Friends of the Valleys, a local animal welfare organization, provided assistance, with specialists transporting the rescued dogs to their facility in Lake Elsinore for veterinary care and rehabilitation.
