MURRIETA, Calif. (KTLA) — In a disturbing case of animal cruelty, authorities have apprehended a suspect following the discovery of 21 dogs confined within a U-Haul truck.
On May 1, Murrieta police officers were called to investigate reports of an abandoned vehicle with two dogs trapped inside the cab, located on the 41000 block of Guava Street, around 6:30 p.m.
Upon arrival, officers were alarmed by the sounds of multiple dogs barking from within the truck’s cargo hold.
Inside the cargo area, they found 21 Cavalier King Charles Spaniels, several of which were pregnant. The compartment lacked both ventilation and air conditioning, raising serious concerns for the animals’ welfare.
Police noted that many of the dogs appeared to be neglected, suffering from matted fur and limited access to food and water, highlighting the dire conditions they were subjected to.
Officers later learned the animals had been left inside the enclosed vehicle for several hours. Each dog was safely removed and transferred to an animal control vehicle.
While officers were at the scene, the dogs’ owner eventually arrived in an SUV, which contained an additional 12 dogs.
The suspect, who was not identified, was arrested on charges related to animal cruelty, animal abandonment and leaving animals unattended in a vehicle.
On May 27, the person was charged by the Riverside County District Attorney’s Office with 21 felony counts of animal cruelty and two misdemeanor charges.
All 33 dogs were transported to Animal Friends of the Valleys in Lake Elsinore, where they were evaluated and received veterinary care.
The dogs will remain in the organization’s care and custody as they continue their recovery and rehabilitation.
“The Murrieta Police Department extends its appreciation to Friends of AFV and community members whose assistance helped bring this incident to light and ensured the safety and well-being of the animals involved,” the police department said.