police rescue – Murrieta police found nearly two dozen Cavalier King Charles Spaniels trapped in a hot, unventilated 15-foot U-Haul truck on May 1 after a call about suspected trespassing. The owner returned with 12 more dogs, and the suspect later faced 21 felony animal crue
By the time Murrieta police opened the roll-up door of a 15-foot U-Haul truck, the sound they heard wasn’t a distant problem—it was loud, frantic barking coming from a cargo hold shut off from the outside air.
Officers were dispatched to the 4100 block of Guava Street around 6:30 p.m. on May 1 after receiving a call about suspected trespassing. A department social media post says police found the abandoned moving truck on private property. with two dogs inside the cab. But the barking was coming from the back.
When the roll-up door was lifted, officers discovered 21 Cavalier King Charles Spaniels confined in the cargo area. Several were pregnant. All of the dogs were rescued alive. but investigators said they had been left inside the moving truck for several hours. Police pointed to harsh conditions inside the compartment. describing it as lacking ventilation and air conditioning and noting many dogs appeared neglected. with matted fur and limited access to food and water.
During the investigation, the owner returned to the truck in an SUV with 12 additional dogs, according to police. The owner, who was not identified by police, was arrested at the scene.
The suspect was later arraigned last month on numerous animal cruelty charges, and police said the case includes 21 felony counts of animal cruelty.
Animal Friends of the Valleys, a nonprofit animal shelter, assisted at the scene. Its animal control specialists took the dogs to the shelter’s facility in Lake Elsinor for veterinary care and rehabilitation.
Murrieta Police U-Haul animal cruelty charges Cavalier King Charles Spaniels Animal Friends of the Valleys Lake Elsinor Inland Empire May 1