California police rescued more than 20 Cavalier King Charles Spaniels, some of them pregnant, from inside an abandoned, sweltering U-Haul truck.
The 21 spaniels were trapped inside the 15-foot truck’s cargo area without ventilation and air conditioning, according to the Murrieta Police Department.
The dogs “appeared neglected, exhibiting matted fur and limited access to food and water,” the department wrote on social media last week, and the owner was arrested on charges related to animal cruelty, animal abandonment and leaving animals unattended in a vehicle.
Officers had uncovered the U-Haul on private property in the city of Murrieta, approximately 80 miles south of Los Angeles, while responding to a trespassing call on the evening of May 1. The spaniels had been left inside the truck for several hours, police said.
The dogs, all of which were found alive, were heard barking as officers prepared to open the truck, according to body camera footage shared online by authorities.
“I’m counting seven in this one crate, no, more than that in this one crate,” one of the officers can be heard saying in the footage.
With the help of nonprofit Animal Friends of the Valley, the dogs were removed from the truck one by one and taken to an animal control vehicle.
While officers were rescuing the spaniels, their owner arrived in an SUV carrying another 12 dogs. It’s unclear what breed the additional dogs were.
Police then arrested the owner.
“I’m getting arrested?” the owner was heard asking officers in the body camera footage.
The Riverside County District Attorney’s Office formally filed 21 felony counts of animal cruelty and two misdemeanor charges against the owner on May 27.
Authorities did not reveal the owner’s identity. The Independent has reached out to Murrieta Police for comment.
All 33 dogs were safely rescued and received veterinary evaluations at Animal Friends of the Valley in Lake Elsinore. The dogs continued their recovery in the nonprofit’s care as of Tuesday.
Murrieta Police said it shared its gratitude to the group “and community members whose assistance helped bring this incident to light and ensured the safety and well-being of the animals involved.”
